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Copyright N". 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



;___j^^j^p^^jt^ ^^^ ~ ^ V V >/ \J^_JkJ^JJ_/Vj C3UV/^<«- 



t 



Milling Kinks 



A COLLECTION OF INGENIOUS 

IDEAS FOR AIDING MILLERS 

AND MILLWRIGHTS 



A Companion Volume to 
The "Book of Wrinkles" 



FIRST EDITION 



COMPILF.D FROM THE AMERICAN MILLER 
BY 

M[rCHi:i.L BROS. PUBLISHING COMPANY 
Chicago, III. 






Copyright 1917 by 

Mitchell Bros. Publishing Company 

Reproduction, in whole or in part, 
without permission is prohibited. 



n 



y 




-7, 



/ 



m 23 1917 



)CI.A467150 



FOREWORD 

"Milling Kinks" is the second volume issued in the series 
of "wrinkle" collections. Its pathway has been well-blazed by 
its predecessor and companion volume, the "Book of Wrinkles," 
which is familiar to milling readers all over the world. The 
latter l)Ook has run through four editions and the demand for 
it is still unabated. Its popularity is due to the utility of the 
ideas contained in it, the method of classifying them, and also 
that up to the present time there has been no similar book in 
existence. 

These "wrinkles" are scattered through the pages of the 
"American Miller," over a period of many years. That millers 
appreciate being able to preserve them in permanent form is 
evidenced by the vast number of letters sent to the publishers 
asking when the next volume in the series would be ready. 
"Milling Kinks" is in reality that rarity in modern times — a 
book "published by popular demand." 

As was the case with the "Book of Wrinkles," the compila- 
tion of "Milling Kinks" has leaned toward the simple but ef- 
fective devices rather than the more complicated ideas which 
would necessitate special tools or machine shop equipment. Bj- 
no means is it claimed that all of the contrivances in "Milling 
Kinks" are new or that they can be adapted in every mill work- 
ing under different conditions. But it is believed that every 
miller can utilize some helps from among the number which 
are presented. 

The publishers wish to pay a deserved tribute to the fertile 
genius of operative millers. These devices are all "brain-chil- 
dren" of the resourceful minds of "American Miller" readers. 
The publishers have merely gathered up a few of the many 
thousands of helpful hints published in the "American Miller" 
and put them in book form. To the originators belongs the 
real credit for "Milling Kinks." 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Chapter I. Bins, Hoppers and Sinks 9 

Automatic Switch for Tempering Bins — Feeder for Wheat 
Sink — To Stop Flour Blowing Out of Packer Bin — To Re- 
lieve Choking Wheat Pit — Automatic Device for Regulating 
Flow of Wheat — Grain Hopper Screen — Improved Slide for 
Grain Bin — Improvement in Stock Hoppers — Slide for Grain 
Pit — Grain Bin Gate. 



Chapter II. Valves and Spouting 19 

Graduated Slide — Feeding Grain with a Slide — Handy Spout 
Arrangement — Spout for Hand Hole — Valve for Switching 
Flour— Grain Outlet — Spout Knocker — Grain Valve for 
Small Mill — Check Box — Spouts for Working Over Choke 
Stock — Non-Leaking Grain Valve — Slide Fastener — To Stop 
Blowing Out Stock— Spout for Wheat Bins — Spout for Weak 
Air Currents. 



Chapter III. Elevators and Conveyors 31 

Belting Elevator on Run — Changing Discharge of Stock from 
Elevator — By-Pass for Conveyor — Reliable Conveyor Alarm 
— Feeding Screenings to Conveyor — Choked Conveyor 
Warning — Home-Made Conveyor Bearing — Removable Bot- 
tom for Elevators — Dependable Elevator Feeder. 



Chapter IV. Receiving, Separating and Cleaning 38 

Feeding Device for Milling Separator — Alarm for Feeding 
Cleaners — An Auxiliary Cleaner — Regulating Wheat to 
Cleaners — Receiving Sacked Grain^ — Straw Catcher — Aspir- 
ating Wheat Before First Break Feeder — Keeping Dirty 
Wheat Running — Combination Wheat Regulator and Suc- 
tion — Shaker for Sieve Box^ — Feeder for Wheat Separator. 



6 MILLING KINKS 

Chapter V. Roll Auxiliaries 49 

Concrete Form for Roll Frame — Adjusting the Roll Feeder — 
Improved Roll Housing Door — Shipping Crate for Rolls- — 
Removing Obstructions from Revolving Rolls — Handling 
Large Rolls — Substitute for Roll Scraper — Feed Spreader — 
Improved Feed Gate — First Break Feed Alarm — Simple 
Guard for Roll — Self-Cleaning Roll Suction — Roll Derrick — 
Electric Alarm for Rolls. 

Chapter VI. Sifters and Bolters 58 

"Everwear" Flexible Sifter Stocking — Seal for Holes in 
Bolter Stocking — "Locktite" Spring Stocking Fastener — 
Spreader for Sifter Sieve — Handy Patch Box — Leading 
Stock Below a Sifter — Protecting Bolting Cloth from In- 
sects — Improved Circulation for Sifter — Cleaner for Sifter 
Cloths — Double Bag Spout for Sifters. 

Chapter VII. Belting and Transmission 65 

Spring for Short Belts — Safety Belt Shifter — Pulley Guard — 
Putting Belts on Pulleys — Belt on Sprocket Wheel — Cure for 
Riding Chain — Insuring Correct Belt Travel — Useful Drive- 
Adjustable Belt Hole — Applying Belt Dressing — Belt Tool 
Box — Belt Dressing Can — Putting Lagging on Pulleys — 
Handy Belt Shifter. 

Chapter VIII. Blending and Tempering 7() 

Valve for Water in Tempering — Blending Small Percent- 
ages — Overcoming Condensation in Tempering — Cut-Off for 
Wetting Conveyor — Wheat Blender with Scale — Siphon Ar- 
rangement for Tempering — Thermometer with Steamer — 
Wheat Steaming Device. 

Chapter IX. Filling and Packing 83 

Sacking Grains — Magnet Needle Holder — Sacking on 
Trucks — Economy with Twine — Home-Made Sack Holder — 
Practical Reminder — Device for Bran Packer — Blackboard 
for Packers — Reel for Hand Packer — Packer Attachment for 
Small Sacks — Filling Bags of Feed. 



MILLING KINKS / 

Chapter X. Sampling and Testing 92 

Getting an Average Sample — Sample Cabinet for Wetting 
Test — Filling Samples of Grain — Self-Operating Sample 
Catcher — Keeping Track of the Night Run — Oven for Sam- 
ples—For the Dipping Test — Sample Cabinet and Oven. 

Chapter XI. Dust Collection 100 

Vacuum Cleaner — Cleaning Dust Collector Tubes — Removing 
Dust in Cleaning Wheat — Purifier Converted into Dust Col- 
lector — Protection Against Grain Dust — Tacking Cloth on 
Dust Collectors — Keeping Cyclone Dust Collector Open. 



Chapter XII. Lubrication 106 

Hot-Box Nurse— "Safety First" Oiler— To Clean Out Oil 
Holes — A Simple Grease Cup — Heating the Oil — Grease or 
Oil Catcher — Improving a Grease Cup — Alarm for a Hot 
Bearing — Oiler for Lubricating Grease — Home-made Lubri- 
cator. 



Chapter XIII. Heating, Ventilating and Fumigation.... 113 
Ventilation in Bleaching — Fumigating System — Utilizing 
Heat of Gas Engine Exhaust — Fumigating While Running — 
Simultaneous Window Opener — Getting Weevil Out of the 
Mill — Cleaning Elevators Before Fumigating — Cooling Fan — 
Mill Ventilator. 



Chapter XIV. Special Tools and Devices 121 

First Break Feeder Cleaner — Soft Metal Hammer — Slip-Pole 
for Millers — Removing Dough from Suction Pipes — Rope 
Splicing Tool — Tin Bender — Choke Reliever — Riddle Clean- 
er — Spout Swab — Air-Ship Floor Cleaner — Tool for Stretch- 
ing Bolting Cloth — Wooden Wrench for Grease Cups — Mil- 
ler's Turntable — Device for Cutting Spouts — Using Steel 
Square as a Level — Repairing Small Holes in Bolting Cloth — 
Simple Key-Way Cutter — Adjustable Center for Alignment — 
Device for Cutting Lace Leather. 



8 MILLING KINKS 

Chapter XV. Miscellaneous 132 

Getting Out Car Grain Doors — Yield Taking in Small Mills — 
An Adjustable Lamp— Power Scoop — Handling Sweepings — 
Device for Car Liners — Splicing a Post — Automatic Trap 
Door — Attachment on Employes' Elevator — Bridge for Car 
Doors — Safety Water Barrel — Automatic Wheat System — 
Home-Made Barrel Hoist. 



The contents of this bocjk and its illustrations are copyrighted, and 
the reprinting, in whole or in part, without permission is prohibited. 



Milling Kinks 

CHAPTER I 

BINS, HOPPERS AND SINKS 



AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR TEMPERING BINS 

A handy arrangement for automatically switching wheat from 
one tempering bin to another, at the same time opening or shutting 
the outlets in the two bins, is shown in the sketch. A is wheat 
spout, B a valve in spout and C a lever controlhng the valve. D is 




a swinging door or gate which hangs down in each bin. Ropes E-E 
running over rollers or pulleys F, are fastened to the hinged gates, 
the valve levers and also the slides G-G at the bottom of the bins. 

When one bin gets full of wheat, the door is forced over, which 
pulls the rope. The rope causes the valve B to close, shutting ofif 

9 



10 



MILLING KINKS 



the wheat in the spout leading to the full bin and opening the spout 
to the other bin. At the same time the slide under the full bin is 
opened, releasing the wheat. Thus it will be seen that when the mill 
is grinding wheat from one bin, the other bin is filling. When in opera- 
tion the slides under the bins are set opposite to the way they are shown 
in sketch. 



FEEDER FOR WHEAT SINK 

The little device shown in the accompanying drawing will save 
many unpleasant trips to the bottom of the wheat sink to clean out 
the dust that accumulates there, and insure an even and constant 
feed to the separator. The conveyor box A should be made of 




Ij^-inch boards, and the conveyor may be of any length from 12 
inches up, as the situation may require, and from 2 to 4 inches in 
diameter. In this particular instance the barrel of a 2-inch auger 
•is utilized for a conveyor, and the shaft extension to pulley F is a 
piece of >4-inch pipe shrunk on the stem of the auger. This feeder 
can easily be driven from the boot shaft of the elevator by means of 
the pulleys B, C, E, and F, and the countershaft D. 

The cut-off slide G is pivoted and operated from the floor by the 



MILLING KINKS 



11 



lever H. The cover of the conveyor box might be made removable 
to remove straws and strings, though trouble of this kind rarely occurs. 



TO STOP FLOUR BLOWING OUT OF PACKER BIN 

One "invisible loss" in milling comes from the blowing out of 
flour from the flour chests and packer bins. Take a 1x6 board and 
saw holes through it about 12 or 15 inches apart, then place 2-inch 







f^LOUR B/M OR 
RACXER B/N 



J-^ 



tin pipes in the holes. Have the pipes of different lengths, the longer 
ones in the center. 

Attach the board, with pipes in, across the center of the bin by 
fastening cleats to the side wall of the bin as indicated. The holes 
should be large enough to allow the pipes to swing in any direction, 
with a rounding flange sufficiently large to form a universal bearing, 



12 



MILLING KINKS 



and the inner edges of the holes rounded to conform to the flange, as 
indicated by the sketch. 

With this freedom to swing, the pipes will give when a slide of 
flour comes against them, and this not only prevents them from being 
bent or mashed, but makes sure that the end will follow the air space. 
This will allow the air to pass up and out at the top, w^hich should be 
about 8 or 10 inches from the top of the bin. 

It is best to have the pipes larger at the bottom and gradually 
taper, so that any flour that might be forced into them when the onrush 
comes will drop out when the lower end is free again. 



TO RELIEVE CHOKING WHEAT PIT 

At times a wheat pit has a tendency to choke as is well known. 
To remedy this put in small pulleys and ropes attached to the sill 




under the bin, as shown in the accompanying illustration, and lead 
the ropes to a point, where they can be worked while taking in wheat. 



AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR REGULATING FLOW OF WHEAT 

In the .sketch A is the bin for grain, 3x3x4 feet, 30-bushel 
capacity enough for 500-barrel mill. B is small round-bottom fire 
bucket with 2-inch hole in bottom. C is ^-inch rod to keep bucket 
in place. D is V^-mch rope connecting bucket with lever F. E repre- 
sents pulleys for y^-'mch rope, while F is lever connecting with slide 
to regulate wheat. G is weight to pull bucket back in place and at 
same time raise slide to let grain in elevator. H is slide regulating 
grain to elevator. / is automatic scale to rolls, etc. J is ear or loop 
riveted to bucket for rod to pass through. K is 2-inch hole to let 
grain out of bucket. L is pin to hold slide down when grain is shut 
ofif, and M is pin inserted in hole under lever to act as a rest, also to 
regulate flow of grain. 

The inlet slide is set so there will be more wheat elevated to bin 



MILLING KINKS 



13 



than amount taken away. As the bin fills up the bucket is filled. 
There is a downward pull as the wheat leaves the bin, drawing the 
bucket down and at the same time closing the wheat slide, shutting 




off wheat. As the wheat gets lower than the bottom of bucket, the 
wheat in bucket passes out through 2-:nch hole in bottom. The 
weight on lever pulls bucket back in place and also raises slide, letting 
wheat into elevator. 

When the operator wishes to shut off wheat, all he has to do is 
raise slide handle and put pin over top of slide. When starting wheat 



14 



MILLING KINKS 



all that is necessary is to pull out pin and the automatic device does 
the rest, working with almost human intelligence. The sketch shows 
a two-story plan, but the arrangement can be adapted to work several 
stories. 

GRAIN HOPPER SCREEN 

This screen must be designed to fit the particular unloading hopper 
and its base made from 1 inch by 3-16 inch band iron must be 
so measured as to fit snugly about two-thirds down into the hopper. 



Rud^e Rod 



Hopper front \ -; 




Wire Screen Coi/er.n, 



Top '. :£w 



Thi "Ameritisn Miller" 



From the middle point of each long side of this base bands of similar 
dimension are extended upright on edge, making an angle of about 
60 degrees with the plane of the base, so that they intersect about 
as far above the base as the width of the frame. 

Through this intersection and at right angles to the bands that 
form it runs a 3,'^-inch rod parallel to the long way of the hopper 
and half the length of the base, extending equally on either side of 
the intersection point. The ends of this rod are joined by riveted 
bands to the four corners of the base. This rod is now covered with 
two sections of y^.-mch pipe slipped over it, and with thread and 
nut on each end drawn up tight so that the framework is rigid. 
Similar ^-inch rods can now be placed through the inclined brace 
bands at levels of 6 to 8 inches above each other as needed 
to strengthen the framework, according to the size of the hopper. 



MILLING KINKS 



15 



The entire frame is then covered with heavy wire screen of %-inch 
to 1-inch mesh, which can be clinched over on the edges and tire- 
tied to the frame rods in the middle. 

The advantage of this pyramid-shaped screen is that it will 
never clog like the ordinary flat screen (because of the shearing 
motion against the oblique surface), but gives a constant steady 
flow of grain, preventing chokes on the receiving separator. 



IMPROVED SLIDE FOR GRAIN BIN 

The illustration shows an improved slide for a grain bin. In 
making this slide the strips on the sides are made a little wider than 
common, with the groove somewhat deeper than usual. Small holes 

HANDLE 



^TR/NG 




\^PE. 



are bored close together through the strips and slide to permit regu- 
lating the opening under the slide with the peg. 

In this way unvarying cjuantities can be drawn from each of the 

different bins for blending. With this arrangement the assistant 

miller can always see what percentage of each grade of wheat to 

draw to give the proper blending and thus keep the mill in unchanged 

grinding. 

IMPROVEMENT IN STOCK HOPPERS 

The accompanying illustration is a very valuable improvement in 
stock hoppers. The bin should be constructed of J^-inch or ^-inch 
ceiling of 4-inch widths, placed vertically, should measure exactly 21^ 
inches by 25 inches inside and can be from 6 to 8 feet high, but not 
so high that the pressure of the wheat within will cause the sides 
to bulge. 

Binders of the usual sort should be placed at the top and bottom. 
Then on the side of the bin which is next to the best light one of 



16 



MILLING KINKS 



the 4-inch pieces of ceihng is left out entirely for the full height of 
the bin. In each side of the opening thus left a groove is provided 
and into this groove clear glass is inserted. The glass should fit neatly 
and not be too loose. Then when completed, with the glass in place, 
not only the amount but the condition of the stock is plainly evident 
at all times. In this way the general or average condition of the wheat 
can be ascertained much more perfectly than by examination in the 
hand or under a glass, for a column of wheat six feet high, more or 
less, can be taken in at a glance. 

In view of the fact that the glass is so narrow it is easily possible 
to get two strips of plate glass at small expense, and if the ends are 




carefully squared the joint will hardly be noticeable, and the two 
will look like a continuous solid piece from top to bottom. 

Next take a straight edge and lay off light pencil marks, vertically, 
one on each side of the glass opening and 3 inches from the edge of 
the wood. These are grinding lines only. Then on the right-hand 
side with a try square lay off horizontal lines 3 inches long, commencing 
4 inches from the floor, and every 4 inches clear to the top. 

Cut in these lines carefully and deeply so that a sharp lead pencil 
can afterwards be run in them to bring the line out distinctly. Each 
4-inch space will contain 2,150 cubic inches which is near enough to a 
bushel for all practical purposes. 

On the left side of the glass similar lines may be placed to indicate 



MILLING KINKS 



17 



the number of pounds. If the hues are placed 6.70 inches apart each 
space will indicate 100 pounds of wheat, and the spaces may be further 
subdivided to suit the convenience of the individual. The pounds and 
bushels should be neatly stamped above each line and the entire chest 
can then be varnished to bring out the figures clearly. 



SLIDE FOR GRAIN PIT 

The sketch shows how a slide in a grain pit may be covered so 
the grain can not come in contact with it and weigh it down. Take, 




Operang^ 



for instance, a pit 8 or 10 feet deep filled with grain. It will be seen 
that to raise the slide lever will require a hard lift and then it will be 
hard to keep it there. When the grain contains trash the slide will 
have to be raised and lowered frequently and at times the load is so 



18 



MILLING KINKS 



heavy that it requires the services of two men to do the work. 
It will be seen that the millwright, instead of placing the slide 
handle or lever outside of the bin where the grain could not weigh it 
down, placed it inside of the bin, with the result as stated. If the 
handle that attaches to the slide is inside of the grain pit, box it up 
so it will work easily. 



GRAIN BIN GATE 

The illustration shows a grain bin gate which operates in grooves 
and can be set at any height desired, the dog holding it in place 







SLIDE 



wherever set. It enables the miller to get a uniform feed from two or 
more bins in blending the wheat for grinding. 

The gate should be made from heavy plate steel or heavy gal- 
vanized iron. Thus constructed it is lighter than if made of wood 
and will not wear off ;it the bottom from contact with the wheat passing 
through. 



CHAPTER II 

VALVES AND SPOUTING 



GRADUATED SLIDE 

The illustration shows a slide design for use where spout dis- 
charges to conveyor and it is desirable to carry spout full of grain 
or other stocks and one cannot make use of hand hole for examining 
volume. 

The cap of slide has a slot, No. 1, cut required length, then at 
No. 2 a duplicate pattern of spout hole is marked off and graduated. 




Insert a screw in slide proper that will allow it free travel in slot 
with movement of slide at a point where the stock is cut off and 
graduated markings extreme end. This will show the distance the 
slide is opened in discharging of grain. 



FEEDING GRAIN WITH A SLIDE 

It is often desirable to feed grain from a bin or into a machine 
by means of a slide. A slide that is cut square on the end which the 
material passes through causes more or less trouble from being 
stopped up with foreign matter that may be in the grain. By means 
of two slides cut on one end in shape of the letter V, and one work- 
ing directly on top of the other, the trouble often experienced by 

19 



20 



MILLING KINKS 



having slides choke, etc.. is greatly lessened. By moving one slide 
so as to open or close the hole as desired this arrangement is both 
convenient and reliable. 

An even better way to control the flow with the double slide is 
to fasten a threaded rod to one slide. The rod passes through a ring 







Thr "American Miller" 



or other stationary part on each side of which is a nut. When the 
opening is at the proper place, the nuts can be turned against the 
stationary part from both sides, holding the slides in place and 
delivering an even flow without fear of choking. 



HANDY SPOUT ARRANGEMENT 

The sketch shows a handy spout arrangement used in connection 
with weighing wheat through the hopper scales for grinding. In 
Fig. 1, a is a double stub spout, one side of which receives the wheat 
from a flat-bottomed bin directly above. The other side receives 
wheat through the spout b from the second floor. 

The double stub spout is supported by a board fastened to the 
joists of each side of the spout. The board has a circular opening and 
a piece of stovepipe iron nailed in, as shown in c. 

The stub spout is fitted with two slides and levers, as shown in 
Fig. 2, the levers extending down to where they can be reached handily. 
The tin spout d, is fastened to a joist with a wire. The wire is 



MILLING KINKS 



21 



fastened to the spout at some distance from the top end, so that by- 
raising the bottom end the spout is released from tlie inlet c and the 
bottom end can be hung up out of the way. 

In this way a minimum amount of spouting is used in bringing 




wheat from two separate floors. The spouting is always out of the 
way except when in use and is also very handy to operate. 

SPOUT FOR HAND HOLE 

A small hand hole in a tin spout is a great inconvenience and it 
is not necessary even when the spout is only ^ inches in diameter. 
Make the uj)per and lower ends of the hand-hole section of the spout 




the same size. 1"he center of the section should be larger, tapering 
gradually toward the ends. In this way there will be plenty of 
room for the hand and the size of the hole will not disfigure the 
spout. The hand hole can be covered by gluing a piece of cloth at 
upper end, letting it drop over the hole. 



22 



MILLING KINKS 



VALVE FOR SWITCHING FLOUR 

The valve, shown in the sketch, for changing flour from barrel 
to sack bins, will save miles of walking. The valve consists of a 
board dressed thin at top end, so as to fit snug against sides of spout, 
and the same depth of spout. It is fastened to the spout with screws 




at the bottom, as shown, and controlled by a small rope extending 
through the two sides of the spout. Two small pulleys are fastened 
to the sides of the spout for the rope to pass through. The rope 
passes down through the floors between elevators and packers on 
grinding floor. A similar valve may be used under hopper scales. 



MILLING KINKS 



23 



GRAIN OUTLET 

Where it is impracticable to use slide and lever this grain outlet 
will be found very convenient. It can be used as a bin outlet, or 
placed over conveyor in sink, or put in spout to regulate the flow. 
Plate No. 1 is fastened at A-A-A-A. It is stationary and Plate No. 2 



f? 



K 




PLATE N°l 



PLATE NU 



revolves over it. The small shaft shown at the top is used to turn 
Plate No. 2. The end C fits in at B to hold the shaft rigid. F is 
square block to turn Plate No. 2, and fits in D. On the other end, 
F is square to turn shaft and G is an indicating mark to tell the 
exact position of Plate No. 2. 



SPOUT KNOCKER 

.Here is a spout knocker that will be truly welcomed by millers 
who are bothered with a flat, choking spout. Of course, whenever 
possible, a flat spout should l)c thrown out but sometimes it is 
impossible to throw out the spout or to put in a conveyor. 

Spouts A-A represent such a troublesome place. B shows a 2x4 
hanger and C a bolt run through the hanger to support D, the hammer. 
The latter is made of 2x2 and on the end that strikes the spout is 
fastened leather pieces to avoid damaging the spout. A weight may 
also be required on this end to jar the spout to a greater degree. On 
the other end of the hammer is a slotted strap of iron, and by moving 
in or out the stroke of hammer may be made greater or less. 

The clamp E is made of galvanized iron about 2 inches wide, 
fastened tightly around shaft and held by bolts. At each revolution of 
the clamp the hammer is raised and released, allowing hammer to fall 



24 



MILLING KINKS 



on spout and jarring any stock loose that has started to stick at the joint. 

Should the shaft near at hand be too high speed, a small wooden 

•pulley H could be put on the shaft G, as in Fig. 2, and another 




pulley H' set up below and belted, with a wooden block F fastened 
to the belt. This would lessen the blows of the hammer according to 
the length of the belt. 



GRAIN VALVE FOR SMALL MILL 

In the smaller mill where custom work is done and interrup- 
tions to the general milling from the stock bin are likely to occur, the 




S//cfe 



13^ American Miller' 



device here suggested may be of value. The cut-off from the storage 
bin is made as a movable slide between (wo runners not shown in 



MILLING KINKS 



25 



the sketch. The spout from the customer's hopper is also run to 
this slide. 

With such '\ valve there are three a\ ailaljle positions, viz. : Grain 
from storage, no grain, or grain for custom grinding. The opening 
in the slide is of width A, and equal to the areas of the stock and 
grist spouts. Sufficient room is left between these spouts for the 
cut-ofif position, when no grain will be going to the mill. 



CHECK BOX 

Where streams of wheat or other coarse material fall through 
several floors, the flow should be broken by having check boxes placed 
on each floor or immediately under floor. Check boxes are usually 




The "American Miller" 

made so there will be a small amount of wheat retained in them at E, 
and this makes a breeding place for weevil and other \ermin. By 
putting a pocket, B. as shown, under E with a small slot. C, in the 



26 



MILLING KINKS 



spout, a small amount will always pass through, and enough will 
be held back in E to break the fall. A and B should be lined with iron. 



SPOUTS FOR WORKING OVER CHOKE STOCK 

In most small mills, choke-ups of all kinds are dumped in the 
feed bins. An arrangement of spouts such as is shown in the 



Qt»««.'.^^^l- 




accompanying drawing would effect a very material saving during 
these times of high-priced flour. Feeders should be placed beneath 
the top floor so as to give a good fall to the different elevators. 



NON-LEAKING GRAIN VALVE 

Often when there is a plain slide valve to shut off grain in a 
spout it will get some obstruction under it and fail to entirely shut 
off the grain. Then when the bottom of the spout gets worn or the 
end of the slide becomes worn away unevenly it is impossible to 



MILLING KINKS 27 

entirely shut off the grain. When sucli a sHde I'alve is installed 



Tht "American Miller 



LfN^ 



where tlie slide B strikes the bottom of the spout A, cut a notch C 
into which the point of B enters, which effectually prevents leakage. 



SLIDE FASTENER 

This simple arrangement has shown itself to be a quick and 




sure fastener for slides in grain bins, spouts, etc. A wedge-shaped 
block of wood, B, is screwed to the bin or spout as shown in the 



28 



MILLING KINKS 



illustration and the staples C, C, driven so as to allow the handle A 
to move readily. 

The fastener, which acts as a lock on A, is screwed to the wedge 
at D in such a manner that it can be moved around in the radius 
indicated by the dotted line. When pushed toward the spout it will 
lock the slide effectually and prevent any slipping or leakage. 



TO STOP BLOWING OUT STOCK 

One of the most common complaints and often one of consider- 
able importance in spout trouble, is the blowing of stock out through 
the hand hole. To stop this, make a pocket as shown in the cut 

jStoch 



Canted 
3oord 




Foe Met 



Hand 
Hole 



and then put in a canted board so that the stock is first thrown into 
this pocket and then off and away from the hand-hole side. The 
object of the pocket, of course, is to prevent crowding and choking. 
With the pocket the area of spout is kept nearly the same. The hand 
hole is now out of the direct stream line, but its use is unimpaired. 



MILLING KINKS 



29 



SPOUT FOR WHEAT BINS 

Ordinary flat bottom wheat bins generally settle and sag more 
or less as the load is placed in them or rise as it is taken out. This 
being the case, spouts running from one floor to another in close prox- 
imity or connected to bins are often torn loose. The accompanying 
sketch illustrates a spout which will give no cause for complaint. 

A stub is fastened to the top floor in the usual way. A spout 



///// /(/r//m/{ ////y^ 



I 

-■A 



'TTT 



■'''''''m////J/////^/)//////////M 



of the same size is extended from the floor to within a few inches 
of the stub. Boards about 12 inches long are fitted around the longer 
spout at the top, extending well over the stub and practically forming 
a spout around the two spouts. This casing is fastened only to the 
lower or longer spout, so that the stul) can slip u]) and down snugly 
in it. This idea is handy where weight deflections occur with loaded 
bins. 



30 



MILLING KINKS 



SPOUT FOR WEAK AIR CURRENTS 

Very often we find horizontal spouts with weak air currents, such 
as a return draft from a dust collector and the like, very liable to 
fill up. The cut a represents such a spout. 

Those* having trouble with spouts of this kind find that the 




arrangement shown in cut b is much better, as the only place that 
can possibly fill up is the elbow at the top. 

An opening in the spout near the elbow, with a hand-hole cover, 
is very convenient; or if the spout is large, a part of the lid can be 
sawed out. With an entrance in the elbow it is very little troubl-e to 
keep it clean. 



CHAPTER III 

ELEVATORS AND CONVEYORS 



BELTING ELEVATOR ON RUN 

When one is installing a new elevator or repairing one that has 
pulled apart, and it is desired that it be done without closing down 
the plant, this method of belting elevator "on the run" may solve the 
problem. 

Take a piece of cotton belting the same width of elevator head 
pulley and have it long enough to go around pulley from leg to leg. 




TVie "American Milter" 



At each end of belt, as shown in the sketch, fold it back and rivet 
or bolt so as to have a place to insert a rope, as at B, then place over 
pulley, D, and draw around tight and tie at E around each leg. Then 
one is ready to put in elevator belt. 

31 



32 



MILLING KINKS 



Slip the elevator belt around and fasten together at most con- 
venient place. When it is put together simply untie rope on down 
side first, then on up side, then cat.h hold of ropes on down side and 
pull belt out and the elevator starts off. 



CHANGING DISCHARGE OF STOCK FROM ELEVATOR 

An effective method of changing the discharge of stock from an 
elevator is shown herewith. A is the elevator head ; B-B are two 
strips of wood, 3 inches wide at the ends, clamped by shaft of ^-inch 



^/A/6 




bolts. The ends of strips run about-one-half inch from a stationary 
ring 4 inches wide on the head of elevator and throw the stock out 
into new discharge spout. The changed discharge is indicated by C, 
while D is a slide to shut oft" old discharge and E indicates where 
stock flows into new discharge. 



BY-PASS FOR CONVEYOR 

Quite often a conveyor that is slightly overloaded will choke at 
the hangers, because the stock or grain cannot pass as freely at the 
hanger as it can in the spaces between supports. To overcome this 
make caps to go over these bearings, enabling the grain or stock 



MILLING KINKS 



33 



that did not pass through at hanger to pass over the top and reheve 
the choking tendency. This will work extra well on wheat-tempering 





2 pieces for> eacH 
cap 



3nacf- 



conveyor or other places where stock conveys badly. Furthermore, 
the capacity of the conveyor can be almost doubled by putting on 
these by-passes. 



RELIABLE CONVEYOR ALARM 

Here is a little device that can be fastened to the bottom of a con- 
veyor and never fails to give the alarm when wheat starts through. 
E is a piece of board about 4x12 inches. At B is fastened a piece of 
copper, to which is attached a copper wire. The supporting brackets, of 




which there are two, are indicated by D. The part C consists of a 
Ixl-inch stick, about 12 inches long, with a piece of tin at one end. 
At the other end is a piece of copper, wired as shown. At H is 
fastened a weight that will over-balance the tongue. 

When put together as shown in Fig. 1, it can be connected up 
to a bell on any floor of the mill, or several floors, and will give the 
alarm as soon as the wheat starts tln-ougii the opening to which tongue 
C is attached. 



34 



MILLING KINKS 



FEEDING SCREENINGS TO CONVEYOR 

To feed screenings or off-grade grain uniformly into a conveyor, 
take a piece of ^-inch round iron the desired length and bend it as at 
A in the drawing. Fix a bearing under the hopper as shown, then 




have pieces D and E made, one to fit the conveyor shaft, the other 
for the ^-inch iron. The iron E must be the longer to give the 
tongue plenty of through. At B fasten a strong spring. C is the 
slide to hopper. When the conveyor is running it will work the 
feeder very nicely. 



CHOKED CONVEYOR WARNING 

The most effective method of preventing trouble from a choked 
conveyor is shown in the sketch. Remove the hooks or catches 

IVe/f/7/s screivee/ 
or do/^eif on 




7k"/i 



m^rtcon. 



M/7/er " Conveyor open 



from the lid of conveyor and screw weights on the lid, just heavy 
enough to prevent dusting out and warping. It will be better for the 



MILLING KINKS 



35 



sake of appearance to put the weights on the under side of the !id. 
When the conveyor is choked, the stock will push up the lid of 
flow over the sides to the floor. This will quickly be noticed by 
someone and save the trouble of fixing a broken conveyor, or the 
belt coming off the reel and causing more chokes. 



HOME-MADE CONVEYOR BEARING 

Cut three pieces of pine or hardwood the size of the conveyor 
box. In the center of Nos. 2 and 3 make a hole ^ of an inch 



^ V^, 



- 


^' /. 




o 

o 




o 








o 



l^/tTHlW-^ 



^2, 



L C/i TH£ 





:^"/lMerccan.^'^^<'^' 



larger than the size of shaft. In the other, No. 1, cut a 3-inch- 
square hole in the center. Bolt all three of them together as shown 
in diagram with No. 1 in the middle. 



36 



MILLING KINKS 



Now take two pieces of leather belt 4 inches square and tack 
in the center, one on each side. Take a short piece of shaft the 
desired size and insert just so the end comes through the leather. 
Drill a 3^-inch hole through from the top and also a 3^-inch hole to 
let out the air. Pour the babbit, let cool and turn the shaft out as in 
some cases it is inclined to stick. Redrill the oil hole and scrape the 
bearing, which will be found to be a very durable one. 



REMOVABLE BOTTOM FOR ELEVATORS 

Unchoking an ordinary elevator is a rather dangerous task. 
The elevator can just as well be made with a removable bottom slide, 



t3J/de 




S/Zo^ 



Pemovab/e, Jbotiom M'c^e 



which will do away with danger and greatly facilitate cleaning out. 
If there is a choke about the mill, the removable bottom, as shown 
in the sketch, can be taken out and the boot readily cleaned. 



DEPENDABLE ELEVATOR FEEDER 

The ordinary slide gate can be depended upon when the wheat 
runs free from trash. But in taking in wheat from the farmer, 
straw, corn, corn silks and shucks, corn cobs, and whole ears at 
times, are found. Place a feeder between the sink and elevator as 
shown in the sketch. A represents a square piece of wood and B 
represents an iron plate screwed fast to it, using one of these plates 
on each side of the square as shown in Fig. 1. 



MILLING KINKS 



37 



Fig. 2 shows how the plates are screwed on and how the journals 
are turned in square piece. It also shows two pulleys on the shaft 
for receiving drive from a like two places on elevator journal. In 




some instances it may be well to have a differential of three pulleys in 
order to regulate the feed to fit individual needs. With this arrange- 
ment the elevator will never choke in starting, as the feeder only feeds 
when elevator is in motion, the stops when it stops. It will be neces- 
sary to use a cross belt in driving it. 



CHAPTER IV 

RECEIVING, SEPARATING AND CLEANING 



FEEDING DEVICE FOR MILLING SEPARATOR 

It is very difficult to use the long feed gate on the milling sepa- 
rator to regulate the flow of wheat from the bin, for the reason 
that even if the wheat has been run over a receiving separator these 
perforations are so much larger that it will let through weed heads 



HOLT 



/f/A/CE 




ADJUST//^Q 
SCffCW 



i[yPULL 



h 

and other particles that will lodge in an opening of perhaps >^-inch 
by 24 inches. Then comes the real trouble — the lessened amount of 
wheat in the wetting conveyor, where the wheat enters later, is getting 
too wet, and then one goes to another story of the mill to clean and 
adjust the feed again, only to find later that the flow of wheat is too 
much. 

Moreover, if the long separator feed gate is opened so little as to 
let through the same amount of wheat as an inch or more hole, it is 

38 



MILLING KINKS 



39 



difficult to hold regular amount of flow. It will be found that by using 
the funnel-shaped feeder shown herewith, the flow is the same all the 
time and it will need no attention. 

Take heavy sheet iron and form two half funnel shaped pieces, 
large end to fit the square spout and the small end for a hole about 1 
inch square, one piece to work into the other for shutting ofif. One 
of these pieces is hinged. The opening in controlled bv the adjusting 
screw and rod shown in sketch. 



ALARM FOR FEEDING CLEANERS 
An arrangement which will tell when the wheat runs off the 
cleaners is illustrated by the sketch herewith. A pail with a perforated 





QF.i, 




lb 



S^lZs 



^ 



"h 



Tt> 



I I WcfiyAf 



bottom is suspended in the tempering bin and is connected by a wire 
to bells on each floor. When the incoming wheat stops, the pail will 
empty and the weight will cause the block of wood to engage the line- 
shaft and start the bells to ringing. 



40 



MILLING KINKS 



AN AUXILIARY CLEANER 

The little device shown consists of a little shaker frame with sides 
3 inches high, a box 10x20 inches made to fit the shaker frame, and a 
drawer 10x16 inches. The sides and rear end are the same size as 
the frame, but the cross-piece is only 2 inches high. 

This little shaker is placed where it will catch the wheat before it 
gets to the grinding bin. The box fills with wheat till it runs over the 



vv/iS/JT SPOUT 




cross-piece to bin. In this way all nails, tacks, pieces of iron, gravel, 
etc., are separated from the wheat and fall into the drawer, while the 
wheat goes over the cross piece into the bin free of foreign substances. 
It is only necessary to try one of these little separators to see how 
many tacks and nail-heads pass the magnets. The drawer pulls out 
and is fastened in place with a button. It should be cleaned out once 
a day. 



REGULATING WHEAT TO CLEANERS 

To save running to the separator every time the wheat has to be 
shut off the arrangement shown herewith has been devised for regu- 
lation of the wheat to cleaners. 

With this idea installed, if the miller finds the stock bin too full 
he merely pulls the "shut-off" cord and all the wheat will pass back 
to the garner by way of the conveyor or "by-path" spout. If an adjust- 
ment is needed or a repair must be made, or a choke occurs, he can 
shut off his wheat on the spot. Then when the repair is made or the 
choke relieved he pulls the "put-on" cord and the wheat is on again. 

Taking up the sketch shown herewith, A represents the elevator 
from the garner, B the conveyor, C the milling separator, D the 
spout to the separator and E the spout back to the garner. No. 1 is 



MILLING KINKS 



41 



the common wooden slide to regulate the quantity of wheat on the 
separator while No. 2 is the special iron slide to put on or shut off 
the wheat to the separator without disturbing slide No. 1. 

Slide No. 2 is made as shown in the smaller sketches and is 
inserted in the spout, to run the opposite way from slide No. 1 by 
means of saw cuts as indicated in the drawing at the upper left. It is 




made from a piece of No. 2 sheet iron with an opening cut in one- 
half of it which is just equal to the inside measurement of the spout. 
Wooden cleats an inch square are screwed to each end of the slide 
with holes through each cleat for the sash cord which regulates the 
slide. 

The method of operation is apparent. The two sash cords, one 
to open the slide, the other to close it, are led over pulleys, if 
necessary, to the elevator leg, where they are out of the way. Then 



42 



MILLING KINKS 



the cords are led through small auger holes to all the other floors. 
In case a "by-path" spout is used instead of a conveyor, said 
spout should have a small pocket or hopper attached to the bottom 
so that it will fill up spout D, the surplus going, as shown, to the 
garner. 



RECEIVING SACKED GRAIN 

The sketch shows one of the best ways of receiving grain in 
localities where the farmers still use grain sacks, and can be installed 




any place where the roadway is about on a level with the mill floor. 
As indicated, /I is a "teeter" board which reaches from the 
wagon bed to B, the hopper on scale, and tips on a round piece of 
wood at C. The window is raised and the board — a light one — put 
in place. The farmer tilts the bag of grain onto it, then takes the 
long end of the board and raises it till the sack slides in. The 



MILLING KINKS 



43 



receiver then cuts the string and dumps the wheat into the hopper 
scale. 

A small trap in the bottom of the scale, with a handle reaching 
to the top is desirable. It will empty into the hopper below in less 
than a minute. The miller does the work by the gravity system 
and the farmer will be well pleased with the arrangement, even 
though he does get the long end of the board. 

Should the location be such that the road is on a level with 
the basement floor on the other side of the mill, a chute can be put 
in to reach to the wagon ; then all lifting in handling grain is 
eliminated. 



STRAW CATCHER 

The device illustrated can be used to remove straws, strings, 
trash, etc.; before the wheat goes to the receiving separator. The 
wheat may be taken from the wagondump by a large elevator which 



CL£V/^TOT^ 

D/SC/f/9/fr,£: 

snf/\\A/ BOX 




throws it into sinks in the basement from which it is fed to the 
elevator carrying it to the receiving separator. 

In its construction, boards 12 inches wide are used, making the 
spout 10 inches wide and 12 inches deep inside. Cut ofif the point 
of the spout at the upper end, till the hole is 10 inches square, to fit 
the discharge of the elevator and at a point five feet down the spout, 
cut down the fillets to 6 inches. 

Then place bars 5 feet long, yj^-i\\c\\ wide and 3-16-inch thick 
set on edge. A, near the bottom of the spout at the upper end to B, 



44 



MILLING KINKS 



at the bottom end of the straw box. Use 9 bars so the spaces are 
nearly an inch wide or a httle closer. 

The wheat entering on top of the bars falls- through and runs 
down the spout. The straws are caught by the bars and the force 
of the striking wheat drives them down to point B, where there is 
a lid to remove them. 



ASPIRATING WHEAT BEFORE FIRST BREAK FEEDER 

Those who have never tried aspirating wheat, supposedly clean, 
just before entering first break feeder, would be surprised and de- 
lighted at the results obtained if they were to do so. 

Fig. 1 illustrates rolls, aspirator and feed governor, A being the 



Fui.l 




^^m 




u_ 




ui~m 




Fint Breal< 



r 



FS'2 



Fip.d 



aspirator, B the feed governor and C a 3-inch suction pipe. The 
aspirator is constructed of wood, a little wider, both ways, than the 
feed governor and about as high. Place deflecting boards as shown 
in the sketch and line the whole device to prevent wear. 



MILLING KINKS 



45 



A section of the front is shown in Fig. 2. This shows inlet for 
air, running clear across from side to side. It is made ^-inch wide 
and placed just beneath the deflector boards. The regulator gate is 
slotted on each end and held in place by a small eye-screw with 
washer. Fig. 3 shows a sectional end view. The aspirator may be 
connected to an independent fan or attached to a main draft pipe 
of wheat cleaning machines. 



KEEPING DIRTY WHEAT RUNNING 

The device illustrated herewith is for the purpose of keeping 
dirty wheat running to receiving separator from farmer's wagon. The 




paddle wheel inside of the spout is run by the stream of wheat and 
outside the spout, on the shaft, is a crank with a heavy wire attached. 
The revolving wheel keeps the wire poking under the slide, so there 
is no chance for straw or other foreign matter to accumulate. 



COMBINATION WHEAT REGULATOR AND SUCTION 

This combination wheat regulator and suction is to be placed 
in the wheat spout that leads from the last scourer to the stock hoppers. 
It serves as an overflow for stock hoppers, a valve that never leaks grain 



46 



MILLING KINKS 



and a suction superior to the suctions now used on grain cleaning 
machines. 

It consists of a covered box 13 inches long, 9 inches wide and 6 
inches deep, inside measure, lined with sheet iron where the wheat is 
likely to strike. The wheat enters through spout A, which has a fall 
of 30 degrees, giving the wheat sufficient force to throw it to the other 
end of the box, where it escapes by spout B or spout C, which lead to 




STOCIf 



stock: 



galvanized iron stock hoppers. The board F has a hole the size of 
the spout openings. Pushed to correspond with either spout, it entirely 
closes the other. 

In the end of the box, under spout A, is a hole G", 5 inches wide 
and 3 inches deep from the top of the box. If either stock hopper 
fills and backs up spout, when box fills sufficiently the grain runs out 
at G and falls into spout D, which returns to bin from which wheat is 
drawn for scourers. 

The letter E indicates a suction spout, 4x6 inches inside, rising 4 
feet vertically, thence horizontally through screenings pocket H to an 
independent fan, which creates a strong suction; but it can be connected 
to scourer fan or eliminated altogether. 



MILLING KINKS 



47 



The air entering at G is drawn through the wheat in almost the 
same direction the grain is travehng and carries lighter material with it ; 
and in the screenings may be found broken wheat, shriveled wheat, 
cockle and chess, but never a grain of good milling wheat. It is 
best to make the screenings pocket wide and deep, cutting the 
bottom out of suction trunk and putting a stop across spout at /. 
The slide, /, regulates the suction. 

The spout A \s 2) inches wide inside and can scour 60 bushels 
of wheat per hour. The trouble it saves in watching the stock 
hoppers pays for its cost every month and a choked scourer is 
impossible. 



SHAKER FOR SIEVE BOX 

The drawing shows a shaker for a small sieve box which can be 
used to separate strings, straws, pieces of coal, etc., from the screen- 
ings before sending them to the screenings roll. 

Fasten one end of lever to the sieve frame of the separator with 




a thumb-screw, so that it can be loosened when not in use, and the 
other end of the lever to a stick J^-inch by 1 inch, attached to sieve 
box. The latter is held up by four strips of iron, so that it will 
swing easily. 



FEEDER FOR WHEAT SEPARATOR 

In Fig. 1, a is a piece of tin — stovepipe iron is best — shaped as 
in Fig. 2 ; 6 is made in the same form but a trifle larger, so as to slip 
over a. A small bolt with a thumb-screw holds the two together, a 
having a hole just large enough to enter the bolt and b having a slot 
so that it can be slipped up and down in order to adjust the feed. 



48 



MILLING KINKS 



The part marked c is an extension to the separator sieve, as 
shown in Fig. 2. There should not be over 5^ inch of space all 
around between the spout b and the extension c, so that practically all 




-7^ 



^ 



:z. 





h. 






ar 




'C 



of the wheat must pass out directly below h on the side shake. This 
distributes the grain nicely. 

With this feeder there is very little trouble from foreign matter 
choking the spout. In elevating when the smutting bin has been 
empty, the grain will not shoot through. The feed will stop feeding 
the moment the separator stops and will never cause a choke. 

The extension c and a part of the main sieve box should be about 
horizontal, as in the cut, and covered with stovepipe iron. 



CHAPTER V 

ROLL AUXILIARIES 



CONCRETE FORM FOR ROLL FRAME 

To permit a clean, easy flow of stock from the roll stand to the 
spout hole, the following plan is suggested : Make a form in which to 
run concrete and use it in connection with frame. The rolls must 
be taken out and the form carefully placed so that the top of it will 




WMZMMm^ 



come up flush at A and the slope should be so designed that it slants 
four ways to the mouth of the spout B. If this is done, all the stock 
will run out clean and evenly. Stability will be given to the stand and 
a good tight job will prevent waste by leakage. 

After hardening and removal of any form, it is desirable that the 
surface should be thoroughly cleaned and made as smooth as possible, 
thus preventing the collection of any foreign matter, insects or lodg- 
ments of dirt. 



ADJUSTING THE ROLL FEEDER 

Occasionally there is trouble for the operative when the roll 
feeder stops and the stock backs up to the other machine, caused by 
the eccentric box becoming worn or the washer worn through the 
center by the set screw, which will surely stop the feeder from 

49 



50 



MILLING KINKS 



vibrating. One will generally obtain a piece of leather or a square 
iron washer to tighten against the eccentric. Now a more suitable 



SCCENTf^/C BOX 



FeSDS/^ A/?M 




S^/f/A/^ 



way to overcome the trouble is to place an iron washer against the 
eccentric block, then a short steel spring and another iron washer to 
screw against, when the feeder will run along nicely for months. 
The drawing shows clearly how it is done. 

IMPROVED ROLL HOUSING DOOR 

The roll feeder housing of the tirst break roll is very apt to rot 
and warp from the moisture in the wheat as it comes from the steamer 
immediately ahead of the roll. 

To overcome this moisture in the feeder housing remove the cloth 



I 



\./ . . \/ . . . 

























I 



The "American Miller" 

from the door and tack wire cloth on instead. It can be coarse enough 
to allow the circulation of plenty of air, but fine enough so that wheat 
cannot pass through. 



SHIPPING CRATE FOR ROLLS 

Handling mill rolls is hard work ; anything that can be done to 
lighten the burden of those who must handle these rolls in the mill 
or on the road, should be done, especially when it costs nothing and 
protects the roll. 

The drawing, Fig. 1, shows how to make the blocks that are placed 
at each end of the roll ; Fig. 2 shows the blocks placed at the extreme 
end of the crate. The object of the end blocks is to protect the crate 



MILLING KINKS 



51 

The 



from breakage and at the same time protect the roll journal 
square opening in Fig. 2 is intended as a handle or hand-hold. 

For a 9-inch roll set your dividers at Sy^ inches, scribe a circle, 
divide the circle into six equal parts by leaving the dividers just as 




they were. Now scribe dotted lines and saw off at dotted lines right 
through the center and board up. it will be seen that each crate will 
require four of these blocks, or two of each. It will be found that a 
six-sided crate can be rolled much easier than a square one, and is 
much more durable. 



REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS FROM REVOLVING ROLLS 

Many a miller has lost his hand or hngers by coming into too 
close proximity to the grinding contact of mill rolls. Everyone must 

B 

X • . ^ 





'American Mi' 



take precautions along these lines. Accidents, however, will happen. 
A nut, bolt or various things may get loose, regardless of care, and get 
into the rolls. If real small they may pass through; if large, they 
bound and slide along, wearing corrugations and themselves and other- 



52 MILLING KINKS 

wise disturbing matters. One likes to have them out to save wear and 
tear. In an emergency the device shown fills the bill. 

A represents end and top view of rolls, B the cast iron roll guides 
or saddles, riveted to handles, C, which are made of 3-16 by 1-inch 
band iron, 8 to 10 inches long. The dark object between represents 
some obstruction it is desired to remove. If you are going to do it, 
while rolls are in motion, use this device. Bore a hole in end of 
handles and hang on a nail near the rolls. 

HANDLING LARGE ROLLS 

Handling 9x24-inch, 9x30-inch or larger rolls is made easy by 
using a "dolly" especially constructed for moving them around the 
mill floor. 

Make a frame of hardwood, of the dimensions indicated in the 
drawing, securely bolted together, the bolts extending all the way 




across. The end pieces are hollowed out, as shown, and the parts on 
which the roll rests are covered with rubber. 

The roller on which the "dolly" travels is 6 inches in diameter, 
with a shaft through the center. It is bound wnth iron bands at 
each end. 

By using this "dolly" one man can easily handle 9x42-inch rolls 
without damage to corrugations or surface of smooth rolls. 



SUBSTITUTE FOR ROLL SCRAPER 

This roll wiper is intended to take the place of faulty scrapers 
on smooth rolls. Put in a little shelf at the bottom of the roll, and 
tamp in cotton flour sacks until the space is filled. Press the top 
shelf down firmly on the packing and screw it on to the housing. 



MILLING KINKS 



53 



This wiper can be installed in a few minutes and it is claimed 
will do far better work than an iron scraper. When the packing is 




worn out it can be quickly and easily replaced with new. However, a 
filling will last for a number of years. 



FEED SPREADER 

To obtain, from the spout, a more even distrilnition of grain to 
the long roll feeders, this little device is suggested. The main draw- 



< W""' 



noil Feeder 




CV>r "American Mi lien" 

n. .. ^^■^^^^^^kl.^^^<.^lH^^JJ■ l . 



ing shows the spreader in place in the spout. The detail drawing indi- 
cates clearly its construction. A piece of rather heavy sheet iron or 
tin is bent into the desired shape. Such a shape- as proposed throws 
the grain down and sideways too, as indicated by the arrows. The 



54 



MILLING KINKS 



valve tongue to which the spreader is attached is made from ordinary 
spouting timber and screws secure the whole together. 



IMPROVED FEED GATE 

The sketch shows a feed gate for rolls that serves its purpose well. 




It is made of 3^-inch lumber and extends the full width of machine. 
When properly adjusted it will stay just where the miller puts it. 



FIRST BREAK FEED ALARM 

The following simple alarm device for first break feed has proven 
valuable. ^ is a piece of tin put on the wheat spout and furnishing 




7i^ /fmertCGrL. 



one terminal for the electric circuit. The second wire is attached to 
a bolt B, in the feed governor. When the governor is empty, the 
arm C is raised and touching A a complete circuit is formed, causing 
the bell to ring. The bell can be placed anywhere, so it can be easily 
heard. 



MILLING KINKS 



55 



SIMPLE GUARD FOR ROLL 

An additional sense of security in moving about the rolls may be 
had by placing a guard made of galvanized iron as in the diagram, 




J'if^ 



r^^iner/c(\rL /Miller' 

which is open on top to permit roll being oiled. The guard is screwed 
securely to the housing of the roll and to the floor. 



SELF-CLEANING ROLL SUCTION 

A self-cleaning roll suction which will not dough up consists of a 
draught spout 8 inches in diameter at the large end and which is 




graduated down to 3 inches at the small end. It is made of galvanized 
sheet iron, the joints, of course, being air tight. 

The upright spouts which are 3 inches in diameter, should pass 
down through the housing of rolls, between the feeders, and should 
have a free opening to the rolls as shown in the cut. 



56 



MILLING KINKS 



ROLL DERRICK 

The derrick for rolls, which nearly explains itself in the sketch, 
is easily and cheaply built. Most of the material can be picked up 
about any mill. The upright posts can be made out of 4x4-inch hard- 
wood ; any good plank will do for the bottom. A pair of old stone 
bails can be used, or take an old wagon tire and have the blacksmith 
forge it out. An old pair of gears will do for the winch and almost 
any mill has a set of ji^-inch blocks. 

Have the center points on the bails fit nicely into roll and centers. 
Drill two holes, one in each bail, just high enough to miss face of roll 




by one inch. Fasten a ^^-inch rod to one with a link, and straight- 
hook other end so it can be hooked into hole in other bail when the 
strain is on, making an absolute lock. 

Stand on the plank back of the winch ; raise roll gently until 
clear of roll frame, then slack to position on derrick base. Hitch a 
rope in eye on bottom and wheel it wherever desired. The three 
rollers underneath, on which the derrick stands, make this an easy 
task. One can lift a roll out or slack it back without any blocks, and 
do it easily, too. It is also easy to trundle to either side of roll line. 

One can move this derrick out to the car or dray, open up roll 
box, pick roll out of box, drop it into base of derrick and into the mill 
again without any help. Nor is it necessary to scratch the floor all 
up, as some do, by sliding the boxes along it. Then it is so much 



MILLING KINKS 



57 



quicker than using a canvas or belt, as one docs not have to slack the 
tension way off. 

The width must be governed by size of rolls. Rolls should have 
about 54 -inch play each end, inside of base plank. The single roller 
or caster must be on outside or long end. This enables one to turn 
the derrick about easily. A good stop pin should be put in winch gear, 
if needed. 



ELECTRIC ALARM FOR ROLLS 

Directly under the rolls place hinged wickets, as shown in the 
sketch. Whenever a choke occurs these wickets are pressed down. 




thus completing an electric circuit. There are four of these circuits, 
each running through an electric bell outfit and a small electric lamp. 
By following through these circuits it will be seen that not only does 
the bell ring, thus indicating trouble, but also the miller can tell just 
where the choke is as only one lamp is lighted for each pair of rolls. 
A switch is included in the circuit for cutting out the bell. 



CHAPTER VI 

SIFTERS AND BOLTERS 



"EVERWEAR" FLEXIBLE SIFTER STOCKING 

This device consists of a series of three or more pipe sections 
or tapered sleeves, made of tin or galvanized iron, hung vertically 
one from the other by rawhide straps about 1 inch wide and 4 inches 



R&g/ular CLoth; 
Over All 



Leather btreps 




Cotter pAn 



Split RuueDs 



S4/rdp 



The "American Miller' 



long, in such a way that frictionless movement is allowed in any direc- 
tion and so tapered that they will fit any spout openings given. 

The top sleeve fits snugly inside the sifter stub, snapping into the 
beading, and is held in place by cotter pins or split rivets inserted 
diametrically opposite each other. The next sleeve is hung by a pair 



58 



MILLING KINKS 59 

of leather straps arranged at a 90-degree angle from the pair above 
so that the motion of the sifter is taken up from every side. 

These tin sleeves entirely prevent the wear of sharp stock against 
the cloth spouts (which are always wearing through) and dusting is 
prevented by the regular stocking which is attached over those flexible 
sleeves in the usual wav. 



SEAL FOR HOLES IN BOLTER STOCKING 

The stockings on a bolter are subject to continuous motion and 
strain and consequent wear. Small holes appear in time and quite a 
leakage occurs. To prevent this leakage and in a ready manner 




VCt^'American Mi Her" 

remedy tiie flaw, cut some squares of tin, ranging in size from }4" to 1 
inch on a side. With pliers turn up the corners to right angles to 
form little clips, as suggested in the illustration. A supply of these 
may be kept in a small box and close at hand, near the bolters. 

To apply upon noticing a hole, pinch a seal over the hole with the 
fingers and then it may be set up tight with the pliers. This opera- 
tion can generally be done when the machine is in motion, so that no 
shut down or continued leakage is necessary. 



"LOCKTITE" SPRING STOCKING FASTENER 

A very good spring stocking fastener consists of strong j/^-inch 
or fV-inch wire pieced together in the rear by a coil spring about 3 
inches long, of same inside dimensions as wire used and into which 
the wire ends are inserted about Yi inch and firmly soldered. In 
front a locking device is made by bending one end of the wire to a 
three-fjuarter eye in a vertical plane, allowing the end to project hori- 
zontally ; the other end being simply bent out horizontally. 

Care should be taken to have the completed wire gap about }i inch, 
before locking. The locking itself is accomplished by half turn of a 
pair of pliers; or any block of wood with two holes drilled in its end 



60 



MILLING KINKS 



^ inch apart can be used as a key (for example, the end of a hammer 
handle). 

The vertical locking device overcomes the bad open space between 
the criss-cross of the ordinary wire where flour or fine middlings is 



COIL bPRlNG 




PERMANfNI 

MflAl Ktr TO BE UiiDlH 
PLACE Of HAMMER 
OR PLlfKS If OSSIRfD 



POSIT'^N WH£NLO(KfO 



TAe "American Miller" 

continually leaking through, and also enables the fastener to be drawn 
up tight with no slack and prevents sagging of the stocking. 



SPREADER FOR SIFTER SIEVE 

A F-shaped spreader made of light lumber and fastened on top of 
the sifter sieve will cause the stock, which has a tendency to form a 




ridge in the center of the sieve, to spread to the sides and thus have a 
chance to bolt. 

A ^-inch piece of pine 2 inches wide, planed to a feather edge 
on one side, full }i inch on the other and reaching clear across the 



MILLING KINKS 



61 



sieve, will cause the stock to run over and assist greatly in the bolting. 
Both of these may be employed on the same sieve. 



HANDY PATCH BOX 

Take two small elevator cups and bolt them together, back to 
back, as shown in the drawing. Use one side for patches and the other 
side for paste. Use a small stick about the size of a sharpened lead 




The Ani&r/cart Af///er 

pencil. Make patches by folding old bolting cloth several times, then 
cutting with a No. 10 belt punch. This makes smooth round pieces of 
cloth with no corners for the reel brush to get hold of. With this 
outfit at hand the miller is always ready to take hold of the patching 
job without delay or inconvenience. 



LEADING STOCK BELOW A SIFTER 

If it is desired to bring a certain stock down the opposite side 
of a sifter to which it naturally was coming, the sketch shows how it 




can be done. Take a tin spout made with a flange at A, so it can be 
fastened to the sifter with small screws. At B work out a piece of 
board and insert the spout. The spout has a joint at C. The board 
at B is also screwed to sifter box. The stock enters the sleeve D. 



62: 



MILLING KINKS 



PROTECTING BOLTING CLOTH FROM INSECTS 

New bolting cloth should always be kept in good condition, free 
from dust and protected from ravages of insects. To do this, make 
a small box out of cedar lumber of sufficient length to hold the bolts 




BOLTING OMIH BOX 



'COf Amenican Mi Hen' 



^^ 



i^ 



of cloth. Hinge the box, making sure of same fitting tightly, and 
when finished give the outside and more especially the inside, two 
coats of oil of cedar. The inside should have an application of this 
oil, which can be obtained at any drug store, every few months. It 
is best to use cedar, but any hard wood can be used if it is coated 
with the oil. 



IMPROVED CIRCULATION FOR SIFTER 

Sometimes it is found that one or more sieves of the sifter need 
more circulation than the rest will stand. This can be overcome 
very easily. Cut a round piece of belting about 1 inch in diameter 




with a small hole in the center. Cut a piece of lace leather, about 12 
inches long and tie a knot in one end. Draw it through the piece of 
belting and tack the unknotted end to the frame of the sieve on which 
you want to work, using more than one, if circumstances demand. 



MILLING KINKS 



63 



About three of these, scattered along the sieve are usually sufficient. 
They should be fastened so that they float with the stock. 



CLEANER FOR SIFTER CLOTHS 

Here is a sifter cloth cleaner that brushes the silk from the top 
instead of the bottom, one cleaner being used for each sieve. It is 
made of three ordinary sifter brush cleaners using a leather base. 





The metallic pieces clinched to the under side of the leathers are 
taken off and a flat, triangular-shaped piece of No. 24 galvanized iron 
substituted. A hole is drilled in the center of the leather disc and a 
corresponding hole in the iron, while a split rivet is used to fasten 
one to the other. The leather discs, however, must protrude a little 
from the rounded points of the triangle in order to protect the sides of 
the sieve frame. A thin strip of lace leather is fastened to a hole in 
the iron and the other end is fastened to a side of the sieve frame. 



64 



MILLING KINKS 



about the center, being long enough for cleaner to easily reach both ends 
of the sieve. 

These cloth cleaners cannot turn over, measuring, as they do, 
from 4 to 6 inches from cleaner to cleaner, the galvanized iron being 
just heavy enough to have the necessary weight and yet not injure 
the cloth. This sifter cloth cleaner herein described will give greater 
satisfaction than any other. The coarse screens on the bottom of the 
sieves may be taken off, if desired, where these cleaners are used. 



DOUBLE BAG SPOUT FOR SIFTERS 

The idea of this device is to keep stockings from leaking through 
when they are cut through by the stock. The inner bag is not 
fastened at the bottom. This keeps the stock from accumulating 




between the two. When both stockings are cut through, the inner 
one should be turned part way round. This can be done until the 
inner bag is completely worn out, the outside one still being as good 
as new. 



CHAPTER VII 

TRANSMISSION APPLIANCES 



SPRING FOR SHORT BELTS 

For short belts, where the Hfe of the belt is short or the fasten- 
ings continually giving way, insert a coil spring of suitable size, as 
shown in the sketch. The spring should not be so long but that half 
of belt contact on smaller pulley will be leather. In some places, for 




instance, roll feeders, short belts are a source of constant annoyance, 
causing frequent choke-ups. By inserting such a spring trouble is 
avoided. It can be applied to sewing machines or other places wliere 
short belts are used. It can also be applied to small flat belts by using 
two or small springs according to width of belt. 



SAFETY BELT SHIFTER 

Herewith is shown a drawing of a safety belt shifter which one 
can easily install. Safety devices have saved the hands and fingers 
of many men, and here is one that is highly satisfactory. It must, 
of course, be arranged for each case. In some places one can put 
the safety weight below the shifter rod, but this idea can be made to 
work with any belt shifter of any style the miller may happen to have 
about the plant. 

Above the timber to which the shifter lever is attached a frame- 
work is built as shown. The lever is extended to carry a sort of a dog 
which has a weight at the outer end. This dog falls in slot A when 
machine is not running, and to shift the belt to the running position 
the dog must be raised by means of the handle on the shifter lever and 
the rod C. Slot A has parallel sides which prevent the lever from 

65 



66 



MILLING KINKS 



shifting in either direction until the dog is raised. When the dog 
drops into slot B, the belt is in running position. One side of this slot 




y^//mer,Wfi}M//er 



fj iJ 



is cut at an angle so that the belt may be shifted in case of accident 
to the off position without the necessity of raising the dog. 

The shifter should be hung so that the lever is in a vertical posi- 
tion when the machine is running, so the weight will not move to the 
off position, due to jar of working machinery. 



PULLEY GUARD 

The roll pulleys and counter-shaft pulleys of a mill are especially 
hard to guard because the wheels must be removed frequently and 
this requires that the guard be torn apart so often that it gets rather 
rickety, and securing screws fail to take hold. 

The drawing shows a guard, easily put together and made from 



MILLING KINKS 



67 



2y^-'mch. pipe and two pieces of 2-inch pipe with flanges as supports. 
All measurements are shown on the drawing, but changes will have 
to be made for different size roll stands. The handiness of this guard 



33 



gfr*" "American M/l/er ' 



^i- 



33 



JLc 



^ 



y= 



lies in the fact that it can be immediately removed, since the main part 
of it fits snugly down over the two 14-inch standards which are 
securely fastened to the floor. Thus the guard is merely lifted off 
the standards and one can work freely at the pulleys. 



PUTTING BELTS ON PULLEYS 

The illustration shows a method for putting large, high-tension 
belts on pulleys. Place the belt on the pulley as far as it will go easily. 




Then take a piece of rope, catch in the middle and bring the two ends 
together. Throw the loop around the pulley and belt in front of the 
spoke, as shown, and bring the ends through. Hold ends in the hand 
and give the slow start signal. The belt will be carried onto the pulley 



68 



MILLING KINKS 



easily. Then the hold on the rope is released, and the belt and spoke 
undo the loop without harm to belt or pulley. 

Probably a little improvement is to tuck the ends of the rope under 
the fore part of the belt and draw them tight, instead of holding the 
ends of the rope with the hands. The ends will then stay without 
holding, and when the belt is on the rope will rip itself off as the ends 
come ofif first. 



BELT ON SPROCKET WHEEL 

In an emergency or for some special service for which there are 
no pulleys sprocket wheels may be used instead of pulleys. As shown 





A 



c c 



D 
I /' r n The "American Miller" 

in the diagram A A are the sprockets; B the belt; CC narrow strips 
of leather tacked on each side of the belt leaving a groove in the 
center. This adds greatly to the strength of the belt without subtract- 



MILLING KINKS 



69 



ing any of its pulling power. A cross section of the belt is shown in D. 
This belt can be spliced and cemented or belt hooks can be used to 
fasten the ends together. 



CURE FOR RIDING CHAIN 

The accompanying sketch is a sure cure for riding chain on large 
sprocket driven from a high speed small sprocket. Engineers advise 
not to drive elevator shafts from a high speed shaft with chain and 




ZSO REV, 

sprockets. They know it is an economical drive but too troublesome 
with two sprocket wheels, as ordinarily driven. With the third 
sprocket, as shown in the sketch, giving less wrap of the chain around 
the large wheel it makes a perfect and economical drive. 



INSURING CORRECT BELT TRAVEL 

The idea of this wrinkle is to make the belt travel on the center of 
the pulley whether the shafting is in alignment or not. The tape is 
wound on the center of the face, as shown in the sketch, making a 
crown to suit the requirements of the conditions under which the belt 
runs. Insulation tape, such as electricians use, that has a sticky rubber 
surface, can be used for this purpose, as it adheres to wood or iron 



70 



MILLING KINKS 



pulleys, making a permanent job and preventing the belt from slipping. 

It often happens that when one wants to run a cross belt between 

short centers, from a large pulley to a small pulley, the belt will not run 

in the center of the small pulley. By making additional crown on the 




center of the small or driven pulley with this tape the belt will run in 
the center of the pulleys. 

This scheme can be used on the smallest or largest drives, and on 
the pulleys of elevators, preventing the belt from rubbing against the 
trunking and thus preventing fires. 

A crowned pulley can be made from a straight-faced pulley in a 
few minutes at very little expense. All that is needed is that the face 
of the pulley should be thoroughly clean and the tape should be wound 
the same way the pulley runs, as shown in the sketch. 



A USEFUL DRIVE 

This drawing shows a device that will often come in handy when 
it is necessary to secure a reverse motion with a sprocket chain drive 
between short centers. The latter is a very practical drive where low 
speed is used, but good practice does not allow the chain to work as a 
crossed drive under 10-foot sprocket centers. 

The idlers may be mounted on a short piece of hollow shafting, 
sawed off to the right length for sprocket and bolted to some con- 
venient timber with a lag screw or bolt, large washers being placed at 



MILLING KINKS " /I 

both ends of the shaft. The latter you may be able to pick up from 
an old conveyor gudgeon or piping. 

Small slow running chains are sometimes crossed in order to get 
proper running direction, but it is not practical except in rare instances 




and anywhere this drive may be substituted, and used also in place of a 
crossed belt running at slow speed and short centers. 



ADJUSTABLE BELT HOLE 

Where the main upright belt is tightened by a horizontal idler, the 
belt hole in the floor on the slack side or the side the idler works on is 
often made as wide as the belt plus an inch clearance on each side and 
perhaps 2 feet long. This large hole is necessary so that the belt 
does not touch the side of the hole, for every notch that the idler is 
tightened makes the belt come through the hole in the floor in a slightly 
different place. 

This unsightly belt hole may be remedied in a very simple way. 
Fig. 1 is a front view of the belt and Fig. 2 is an edge view of the belt. 
Beside the belt hole and perhaps an inch from it are fastened the 
guides A- A. Between these guides slide the boards B-B. Now when 



n 



MILLING KINKS 



the belt is tightened to the right tension, slide the boards B-B in toward 
the belt till they leave just sufficient clearance and the belt hole is 




practically the same size as an ordinary belt hole. It desired, a piece 
of old bran duster or similar brush can be fastened to the edge of the 
board nearest the belt to keep it as clean as possible. 



APPLYING BELT DRESSING 

Many serious accidents have resulted from the careless manner 
in which belt dressing has been applied. A safe way to apply dress- 




m 



TiHffiir 



vV^mafieern Miller' 



ing to a slipping belt is to take a 2-inch board about 2 feet long and 4 
inches wide, bore a hole about 1^^ inches from the end the size of the 
bar, which is usually 2 inches. This holder may be trimmed down on 
the opposite end for the handle. A brush may be fastened on one 



MILLING KINKS 73 

side, and it is always a good idea to brush the belt before applying 
dressing. 

Another way is to take a round piece of wood about 2 inches in 
diameter and 2 feet long and nail a piece of galvanized iron around 
one end, letting it stick out over the end of stick about 2 inches. This 
makes a good holder for the dressing. 



BELT TOOL BOX 

A box for holding belt tools is one of the handiest and most con- 
venient contrivances ever placed in a mill. To make the box, cut two 
solid blocks of wood, A and D, screw the sides and bottom to them 

3 

,D 




The "American Miller" 

and put on the lid B with hinges. The block D should be cut down 
to permit a plate of iron C to be placed on it. This plate is used to 
clinch belt hooks, etc. Block A is used as a punch block for belts. 
A partition can be made in the box, if desired, one side holding belt 
laces and the other metal hooks. The tool in the lid marked 1 is simply 
a wooden handle with a piece of wire through it and a hook on the 
end of the wire. This is used for releasing the lace when it is not 
possible to do so with the fingers, as is very often the case. 



BELT DRESSING CAN 

For applying liquid belt dressing a very neat device can be made 
from a fumigator can or from any ordinary paint can. With a sharp 
punch perforate tbe cover with about 34 -inch holes all over the surface. 
Then invert over it a small funnel, soldering the funnel edge firmly all 
around to the rim of the cover as shown. The belt dressing is then 



74 



MILLING KINKS 



poured into the can and the cover pressed on securely. From this can 
the dressing flows in a thin, steady stream and can be zigzagged across 



SoLDeniNo To Rim 
Of Cii/£R 



FUMIOAJOH C^t 




I/yi/f/f7fO fi/iv/vfL 



PefiFOnATCD HoiEi 



Bill DP[55m Cflli 



the belt when in motion, making even application. The can is easily 
and quickly filled, prevents leaking and waste, and keeps dust and dirt 
from the mixture. 



PUTTING LAGGING ON PULLEYS 

Sometimes it becomes necessary for a miller either to increase the 
diameter of a pulley or buy another one. A good way to increase the 




size of a pulley from 5 to 12 inches is to drill holes in the face of the 
pulley, say about every eight inches, the exact distance varying with 
the size and speed of the pulley, placing them zigzag around the run. 
Next describe a circle the size of the pulley and another a trifle 
larger than the pulley is to be when increased. Then draw two lines 



MILLING KINKS 



75 



from the center of the pulley to the outside, and use the portion set ofif, 
as at A in the drawing, as a pattern for sawing out the pieces. 

The latter can be made out of %-inch board, using a hand or jig 
saw. After enough material has been sawed, lay the pulley down flat 
and place one round of the pieces around it, keeping them as tight 
against the pulley as possible. Then with screws and glue fasten the 
next round on top, breaking the joints, and keep on in this manner until 
the face is covered. 

Bore holes to correspond with those on the inside and put in 
bolts, keeping all the nuts on the inside and countersinking the heads 
into the w'ood. Place the pulley on a shaft and turn the face to the 
proper size. If done with care, this will make a first-class job. 



HANDY BELT SHIFTER 

A belt shifter that can be operated from any floor in the mill, thus 
saving many steps when it is necessary to take off a belt several times a 




day, is shown in the accompanying sketch. It is made of two pieces of 
2x4, one about 12 inches longer than the other, bolted together as 
shown. In putting the pieces together, put a thick washer between 
them to prevent binding. Fasten a spring on one side, to hold lever 
from the belt, and to the other side attach a rope, which can lead to 
any place in the mill. 



CHAPTER VIII 

BLENDING AND TEMPERING 



VALVE FOR WATER IN TEMPERING 

When there is no automatic tempering machine in the mill, a device 
for adjusting the water to suit the grain feed to the conveyor is found 
to be very useful. The one illustrated in the sketch is now being used 



WJieat LnLet fro-m, elevatfjr 



Wd^er p-tpe 




Hand Hole 



MiKind Conveuor 




T*e "Amtricin Miller" 

in a good-sized mill with great success. The tin hand on the dial 

indicates the amount of water going to the conveyor, the hand being 
fastened permanently to the cock or valve wheel when the hand is at 
the water being turned off. An enlarged view of the dial is shown 
in the lower right hand corner, while its method of attachment is shown 
in the main part of the sketch. 



BLENDING SMALL PERCENTAGES 

Very often a miller has a parcel of off-grade wheat or corn left 
on his hands, which he has to work out as a small percentage of his 
run. To do this so that the percentage of off-grade keeps uniform in 
the feed is sometimes a task requiring much more time than circum- 
stances warrant. 

To save this time and labor, the device shown in the accompanying 
diagram was planned and it has been found to do all that was expected 

76 



MILLING KINKS 



77 



of it. Beside the two spouts leading to the blending conveyor a third 
spout is placed. In this spout is a slide through which a stifif wire 




^iT\E THROUGH 
spnuT 



inwr>ccarL 



passes to keep it free. The wire, reaching down into the conveyor, is 
moved from side to side by the worm. This insures a constant though 
small stream of grain feeding to the conveyor. 



OVERCOMING CONDENSATION IN TEMPERING 

Very often steam to be used for tempering wheat is piped to a 
considerable distance to reach the wheat steamer. In this distance 
much of the steam becomes condensed and consequently there is some 




^Ae "American Miller'' 



water at the steamer to contend with. To overcome this trouble put 
a 23^ -inch or 3-inch tee in the steam line at A, and a drip pipe 
therefrom as at B, containing a valve C. The large tee will catch the 
water and by occasionally opening the valve, C, to let the water out, the 
steam will be very much dryer. This is of great advantage in a steamer. 



78 



MILLING KINKS 



CUT-OFF FOR WETTING CONVEYOR 

Assuming that the wheat dampening conveyor is located on the 
third, fourth, or any other story of a mill building remote from the 
grinding floor; when the wheat stops running, or the mill shuts down, 




'^^"Amer/can Millen" 



especially at an unexpected time, of course the water running to the 
wheat must be stopped at once. This may be accomplished if one will 
take the pipe from the water tanks and equip it with a valve ahead of 
the drip cock as shown in the drawing. The hand wheel is removed 
and a small pipe attached by means of a cotter pin, said pipe being 



MILLING KINKS 



79 



long enough to reach to the floor desired, and the wheel taken from 
the valve may be attached to lower end of the pipe. 

By turning this pipe, the water may be shut off by anyone on any 
floor of the mill in case of sudden stoppage of wheat or shut down. 
It is also a convenience in starting and regulating water supply. 

Should the wetting conveyor be located in the basement, the posi- 
tion of this device may be reversed, extending upwards through the 
different floors to be operated in the manner described. 



WHEAT BLENDER WITH SCALE 

This device is intended to blend two streams of wheat in any 
desired proportions. The interior of the blender is shown in Fig. 1. 
It consists of an oblong sheet iron box about twice as long as wide. 
As shown in the sketch it is made with a vertical partition through 
its center to keep the two streams separate. Near the bottom of the 



31'eie 



Straam A Stream B 







V» 'jlm»riCM7 Ml I If ' 



box and about Y^ inch under the partition is a heavy sheet iron slide 
about an inch longer than half the length of the box. To the under 
side of the slide is soldered a f^-inch iron rod extending through the 
end of the box. A small glass window is placed on each side of the 
partition to show at a glance how the wheat is running. A hopper 
emptying into a spout is placed just below the box. The top of the 
hopper is made to extend about 4 inches in front of the box to allow 
an examination of each stream of wheat as shown in Fig. 2. 

Since the position of the slide controls both streams of wheat at 
the same time, a scale showing the position of the slide, if properly 
made, will indicate the proportion of each stream of wheat constituting 
the mixture. This scale is made of a piece of thin metal and of proper 
length to extend somewhat beyond the end of the slide rod when the 
latter is fully withdrawn. It is well to bend a piece of heavy wire into 
the form of staple, pass it through a hole in the end of the scale and 



80 



MILLING KINKS 



solder one end of it to the side of the hopper. This allows the scale 
to hang out of the way when not in use. 

To calibrate the scale proceed as follows : Nearly close the slide 
on the A side ; have plenty of wheat in and above this side and have 
just enough in the B side to come to the bottom of the glass in this 
side. Then take a known weight of wheat — say 150 pounds, and 
place it in the bin above side B. Open the slide in the spout below the 
hopper and catch the mixture until the surface of wheat in side B falls 
to the bottom of the glass, then weigh the mixture. If the total weight 
is found to be 200 pounds, it shows that 50 pounds from side A have 
been mixed with the 150 pounds put into side B. In other words, one- 
fourth of the total mixture comes from the side A. Bring the scale 
to the horizontal position under the slide rod and mark "^" on the 
scale just under the end of the rod. Other points on the scale may be 
found in the same way for different positions of the slide. If one is 
familiar with the use of cross section paper, the wiork of locating these 
points is greatly lessened. A suggested appearance of the finished scale 
is shown in Fig. 3. 



• SIPHON ARRANGEMENT FOR TEMPERING 

For dampening wheat the following siphon device will be found 
efficient. Water is forced from the heater. A, in boiler room to tank, 




B, over dampening conveyor. When the tank is filled, a signal is sent 
to the engineer and the valves on the water pipe leading from the 
heater is closed. Water is taken from the tank by means of the siphon, 
D, to insure a perfectly even flow of water at all times. A regulating 



MILLING KINKS 



81 



valve, E, is placed on the end of the siphon over the conveyor. On the 
other siphon end, is a wire strainer, C, that will prevent anything but 
water entering the siphon. 



THERMOMETER WITH STEAMER 

The amount of steam going to the wheat steamer over the first 
roll is easily read by means of an ordinary dairy thermometer im- 



Tln FunaeL 




Th.ermometer 



Tht" American HOlar" 

bedded in a strip of wood, this strip being made to slide on a block 
by means of two light guide strips of tin. The block of wood is then 
placed on top of the first break roll housing, so that the sliding strip 
with the thermometer may be slid in or out at will, through a hole in 
the funnel directly below a wheat steamer as shown in the drawing. 



82 



MILLING KINKS 



A Steam regulator is attached to the steam pipe going to the steamer, 
hence only a needle valve regulation is necessary, and the amount to the 
steamer is instantly read by the thermometer. 



WHEAT STEAMING DEVICE 

An inexpensive and satisfactory home-made wheat steamer con- 
sists of a steam pipe, dead-ended and run into the center of a 4-inch 
pipe from the wheat spout, as shown in the diagram. This dead-ended 




pipe has been slotted with a hack saw. inclining the slots to give the 
steam a flow counter to that of the wheat. The slots are well dis- 
tributed and each berry in falling receives several streams of steam so 
that the process is quite thorough. The supply of steam is regulated 
by a valve external to the steamer. This device may be placed in be- 
tween the wheat spout and the conveyor so that it discharges the tem- 
pered grain directly into the latter. 



CHAPTER IX 

FILLING AND PACKING 



SACKING GRAINS 

Quite a saving of labor is secured by a unique device used in 
putting up v^^heat or corn and their products in paper sacks. The ap- 
plication of the idea is original, although a similar piece of apparatus 




was used on old-time powder-flasks. In the mill, putting up small pack- 
ages, it is proving indispensable. 

A sheet iron tube is used, large enough to hold a quarter or a half 
of a bushel, as the case may be. This contains a paddle or slide, one at 
the top and one at the bottom as A and B. These are operated by a 
pivoted lever, C, so that when one is closed the other is open. 

83 



84 



MILLING KINKS 



The cylinder of tube, DE, is arranged to hold the exact measure 
between the paddles and can be regulated to the different conditions of 
the grain by bolts and lugs, FF, and the telescope tube, E. 

This device can be arranged on a convenient post, underneath the 
sacking bin. Sizes of both a half and a quarter of a bushel are easily 
made, and to fill a bushel bag, the lever may be thrown twice. 



MAGNET NEEDLE HOLDER 
To make a good needle holder take an old magnet, such as is 
often used in the wheat spouts above the scourers, and fasten it to 




T\\S Americo/ri Miller 

the top of the packer scales and no better needle holder could be desired. 
Just drop the needle on the magnet and it will not slip off. The accom- 
panying sketch shows this magnet needle-holder. 



SACKING ON TRUCKS 

In a great many mills flour sacks are handled needlessly, which 
uses energy and time that might be put to better purposes. A simple 
device which will eliminate one, and perhaps more handlings of sacks, 
is easily put into use; A being the packer tube, B the sack of flour, 



MILLING KINKS 



85 



resting on truck, C. This truck is run over to the scale, E, weighed 
and tied ready for the storage. If the packer platform, D, has sup- 




porting irons in the way they can easily be changed so as to permit 
the truck to pass. There should be two trucks so as to keep the packer 
going, and they should be of light construction. 



ECONOMY WITH TWINE 

With the amount of twine used in a flour mill, there certainly 
would be a great saving in a year's time if the tying or sewing strings 



4- 




7"Af "American Milter" 



were cut just the right length; also the package would look neater when 
finished. 

To cut twine with- an ordinary pocket knife is a task, as the edge 
becomes dull after a very few cuts. The illustration shows a device for 



86 



MILLING KINKS 



cutting twine of proper length, the cutter being a file which will hold its 
edge for a long time. 

Fix a board in front of knife like a mitre box, the strips on each 
side being not over an inch, or the height of the strand of twine. The 
length of the board should be six inches longer than the length of the 
twine used to sew with in the mill. On this board can be marked the 
different lengths of twine in daily use and they can thus be cut uni- 
formly and without waste. The file cutter has one edge ground down 
in knife blade fashion and is fastened to the box and has a handle 
mounted as shown in the drawing. Its use will save much waste of 
time and material. 



HOME-MADE SACK HOLDER 

This "home-made" sack holder is an improvement over the average 
as it does not require any floor space, and it can be easily moved from 
place to place without tipping over. The sacks are easily put on and 

BUTTO/V 

/. /7C BOl rs 




easily removed when filled. If properly made, the sack will not come 
ofif until released. 

Small mills often have various kinds of feed in bulk in different 
parts of the mill. This must be scooped up from the floor as it is 
sold and there is not always someone at hand to hold sacks when 
needed. 

This holder is made of inch lumber and fastens to the wall, or 
rather slips over two lag bolts which are provided with washers ; thus 
it cannot get away. The sack is put in position as shown, the buttons 



MILLING KINKS 



>i7 



turned down and one is then ready for the scoop. The corners of this 
frame should be reinforced with angle iron. The dotted lines show 
the position of the sack. 



PRACTICAL REMINDER 

There are many times when workers get careless in the weighing 
of small bags, getting too much or too little, thus causing a waste or 
defrauding purchasers. If one has a little reminder, such as is sug- 





gested in the. sketch, it will keep the packer awake to his duties. With 
a little ingenuity, the attachment can be rigged up on any scale. The 
material needed is only a battery, a door bell and several feet of wire. 

Several points must be considered. The wires to both contacts 
must not interfere with the weighing or alter the weight. If there is 



88 



MILLING KINKS 



any sparking at the contact, it would be well to place small extra pieces 
of metal at the places where sparking has occurred, to take the sparks 
thereafter, and adjust the weight at the end for the additional piece 
added to the beam. 

It is suggested that one wire be attached on the immovable side 
of the knife edges holding the balancing beam and the other fastened 
to the retaining yoke on the end if that is insulated from the beam, 
or tied to it, if the beam is metallically connected to the yoke. The 
sound of the bell may be deadened so that only the packer can hear it 
plainly, thus avoiding unnecessary noise. 



DEVICE FOR BRAN PACKER 

Bore a hole through the weight lever of the bran packer. Attach 
a rope by means of a hook through this hole. Run rope over a pulley 



rOLLLY 




. ^ i, \ •■ 'T^ 



WEIGHT 




7ii/l> 



mericarv 



M:Uc 



en 



^. -. s s s s:ss: 



attached to the ceiling and back down to within easy reach of the 
operator. On the end of the rope tie a loop or attach a handle. This 
is much easier than having to lift up on the lever when running the 
carrier down to take off the filled bag, or when releasing the brake to 
run the platform up. All one has to do is to pull down on the rope 
and up goes the carrier. 



MILLING KINKS 



89 



BLACKBOARD FOR PACKERS 

Verbal instructions are sometimes misunderstood in the packing 
room, and explanations of conditions take time to explain ; but a black- 
board places things in black and white and beyond dispute. The man 
in charge may give his orders to the packers on the board and any 
shipment got out is then checked off. 

The blackboard is made up to a suitable size to permit of any 
desired usage. A few smooth boards in a frame and a little black paint 




are the only requisites. When a packer at the finish of his trick has 
not the order all out, he chalks up the balance on the board as so many 
out, and so many to go. The next packer will continue with a definite 
idea of what has been accomplished and a lot of talk will be saved 
among the employes. 



REEL FOR HAND PACKER 

Often when a hand packer is pretty well filled with flour, and 
there has not been any taken out for some time, it will not run out 
very readily. At such times it generally becomes necessary to pound 
the packer with a mallet of some kind, and as a rule the wooden hopper 
becomes bruised more or less. The accompanying sketch on the next 
page illustrates a reel to overcome this difficulty. 



90 



MILLING KINKS 



The reel consists of a %-inch rod formed into a crank at one end, 
the other end having a washer and a spht key inserted to keep the rod 
in its place. Two pieces of Ix^-inch iron, about 11 inches long, are 




bolted to the rod with ^-inch bolts, the rod being filed flat where 
these irons are fitted to it. The two pieces of flat iron should stand at 
right angles, that is, while one is in a vertical position the other will be 
horizontal. A slight turn of this reel will generally start the flour. The 
reel must be placed as near to the bottom of the packer as possible. 



PACKER ATTACHMENT FOR SMALL SACKS 

This attachment will be found handy for use with a packer when 



■pftCKE'R 
TUBE 



^\i(k 



EK 




packing extra small sacks. The general outline of it is shown in the 
cut. It is made of galvanized iron with the spout in the side as indi- 



MILLING KINKS 



91 



cated. The bottom fills up as far as the spout and then the flour runs 
out into the bag held under it. With one man to pack and another to 
weigh, two men can fill a lot of sacks in a very short time with this 
attachment. 



FILLING BAGS OF FEED 

The accompanying sketch illustrates a labor-saving device which 
may be employed to advantage where there is a large amount of feed 
grinding or other material requiring thumping down to fill and pack 



rS To /OO 




the bags properly. The sketch shows a driven shaft with pulley and 
cam, D, roller, C, with upright surmounted by a platform on which 
the bag, B, rests while filling from the spout, A. The cam, D, should 
have jaw clutch with lever or friction clutch to disengage the cam 
when not needed, and should have grease cup attached to prevent wear. 



CHAPTER X 

SAMPLING AND TESTING 



GETTING AN AVERAGE SAMPLE 

The sketch shows how to get an average sample of wheat from 
automatic scale or spout. Bore a 1-inch hole through side of spout 
and make a sheet-iron slide with like hole, also a slot in slide to regulate 




same with bolt and thumb-screw. A small gas pipe or tin tube can be 
used to spout wheat to a box of sufficient size to hold enough to fill a 
grain tester and an absolutely average test of the day's run can be had. 
After once adjusting to get the desired amount, no further attention is 
required. 

92 



MILLING KINKS 93 

24-HOUR CABINET FOR WETTING TEST 

The accompanying sketch shows a sample cabinet for the wetting 
test accommodating samples for each hour in a 24-hour run or two 
days when running on a 12-hour basis. The cabinet has a glass front 




7a, "AmmcJ" mUt,- 



and electric lamp (several lamps can be used if desired). Besides 
furnishing light, the lamps help to warm and dry out the samples. 

Referring to the side view shown at the right the construction de- 
tails will be plainly seen. A is the wooden strip %xli^x30 inches. 
B is one of the three-cornered blocks for the sample boards to rest on. 
These blocks are cut at such an agle that the samples are visible, but 



94 



MILLING KINKS 



flat enough that they will not slide off the boards when dry. C is one 
of the sample boards with screw-eyes B to hook over nails E. 

All the boards should be made exactly the same size, so that they 
will be interchangeable and can be put on any block. 



FILING SAMPLES OF GRAIN 

In many localities farmers bring in samples of their wheat before 
they are ready to deliver it, on account of bad roads or press of other 
work, or because they think the price will be better later on. It pays to 
file these samples rather than merely to make a grade notation and the 
method illustrated answers the purpose admirably. 

When the wheat sample is brought in put it in a pint or half-pint 
milk bottle that is clean and dry, sealing the cover so that it is airtight, 




"^''c "ArtwTMn MUler'.' 



and labeling the bottle with the farmer's name, the grade of the wheat 
and the amount he has to dispose of. Then, when the farmer calls 
up later to get a price on his wheat, the miller can go to the bottle and 
determine in a moment what it is worth. There is little chance for 
argument. The scheme has another advantage alsr>: If the sample is 
clean, plump and unmixed with other grain, and the farmer knows that 
the miller has it, he will be much more likely to deliver grain that is up 
to the check than if there were no sample. 

SELF-OPERATING SAMPLE CATCHER 

Where it is necessary to take frequent samples, a good sample 
catcher is desirable. Here is one which will work anywhere : ^4 is a 
spout or conveyor, B a piece of brass tubing, 1 inch in diameter. A hole 
is made in the end of this so that when the tube is pulled into the spout 
it catches a sample, which runs down through it and into a sample 
box, D. Now, to make this an automatic sampler, one must devise a 
method of pulling the tube, B, regularly into the spout and of turning 
the sample box also. These two things are accomplished in the 
following manner : 

A hinged dog, C, turns the sample box, D, each time as the tube, 



MILLING KINKS 



95 



B, moves forward, D's motion being restricted to one direction of 
rotation; but its size may be unlimited. £ is a wire which runs on 
little pulleys or direct from the dust collector to B and gives it its 
motion forward, being returned by a spring. 

A small lever, F, which screw, H, pulls down as the dust collector 
drum revolves, is the prime mover. If the drum goes too fast, make 
a wheel with an extra long spoke to do the pulling down, so that it can 




2f4f 



be arranged to take a sample for every four or five revolutions of the 
drum. The whole apparatus, or more especially the sample case, can 
easily be boxed and locked. An accurate and untampered specimen of 
the continuous flow or of the evenness of the blending is thus obtained. 



KEEPING TRACK OF THE NIGHT RUN 

Make an upright box measuring about 12 inches square and 8 feet 
high, large enough to hold samples from a 12 or 14-hour run. Place 
this box under the flour conveyor carrying flour to the packer bin. 
Through the bottom lining of the conveyor a 34-inch hole is drilled, the 
flights being arranged so that they will just touch the bottom at that 
point and prevent the hole from becoming clogged. With this arrange- 
ment there is a small stream of flour going to the sample cabinet all the 
time the mill runs. A number of 1-inch holes are bored in the cabinet 
as shown, with a long slide indicated by the dotted lines, to cover them 
while the box is filling. There is also a slide at the bottom for emptying 
the cabinet. 

When leaving the mill in the evening close both slides, and the 



96 



MILLING KINKS 



cabinet gradually fills up during the night, so that in the morning a 
sample can be had of all the flour made on the night run. 

In the morning open the long slide, take s,mall half-round probe, 
get a sample from each hole, examine it for specks and compare it with 



lA A /^ /\ /\ A A /\ /\ A 


-x\j-\j W \) \J \J \) \J \J \J 




.,-^ 


-%"holc 


// Bo/. IZ" 
// Squf\n£^. 
// S' HIGH 





O 

o 




\ \ 






'^/"holcs 


\ BIN \iONe 

\ ISilDC-: 


'!•. 


o 



o 
o 
o 




\ 1 ^ 




_o 


SLIDC 


\ 


^ 


s / 




\ 


^ 







.PACKZn 



the standard. Should specks be found or if the flour is off color, note 
the hour on the cabinet at which it was made. 

Then go to the warehouse where the flour is piled and marked 
according to the hour made, and sort out the off flour, which should 
be returned or redressed. Should the sample cabinet show a clean run, 
all the flour can be immediately shipped. 

By this device it is not only possible to inspect all the flour made, 
but should the mill be shut down during the night it is possible to tell 
just how long the shut-down lasted. If, for instance, the cabinet 



MILLING KINKS 



97 



showed 11 hours instead of 12, there was an hour's shut-down. The 
small hole in the conveyor always runs the same amount of flour, 
regardless of the amount of feed on the mill, for there is always flour 
enousrh to cover it. 



OVEN FOR SAMPLES 

A baking outfit, so far as the oven is concerned, may be installed 
at little or no expense if planned like the one described here. It con- 




sists of a tin box with a door and shelf in it, as shown in the cut, and 
is fastened to the stack of the boiler on top of the generator. The box 
has no bottom and sides are cut to fit closely to the generator top. The 
shelf in the box is made of iron. This little oven will bake the samples 
well and prove a convenient adjunct for the mill. 



98 



MILLING KINKS 



FOR THE DIPPING TEST 

Where a pan or a bucket is used to dip samples of flour, fresh 
water has to be brought at frequent intervals or the sample will be 
dirty. To be sure of fresh, clean water at all times the following 
device is useful. Have the tinner make a tin box about 20 inches 
long by 14 inches wide and 10 inches deep. Two inches from the 




'American Miller 



drainage end of the box put a partition which extends to within two 
inches of the top. See that it is well soldered. Connect a water pipe 
with a valve, B, as in the drawling, also the drain pipe C. Keep the 
water valve opened so that water will just slop over the partition, keep- 
ing the level as at y^. It will take only a little water running to keep 
the box fresh at all times. 



SAMPLE CABINET AND OVEN 

The two views shown illustrate fairly well an arrangement for 
sampling flour mill runs. In the bottom of cabinet one may store the 
large standard samples. Then label coffee-cans, the working samples 
taken from the larger samples for convenience. Below the cans is the 
water in a covered butter jar. Above the cans on the right are 24 
small pigeon holes for receiving each dipped and dried slide — one for 
each hour — above for p. m. run, below for a. m. run. On the 
brackets above is drying oven. 



MILLING KINKS 



99 



Just in front of water jar place a nice heavy pane of glass — use 
smooth moulding to hold it in place. It makes it easy to keep clean 




FRONT VIEW 

Th e "Amman Miller' 



and the millers will not nick the woodwork when "knocking" trier. 
The drawer to the left is for waste. The one to right for a hand brush, 
slick, glass slides, etc. The cabinet should be of convenient working 
height and wide enough to suit individual purposes. 



CHAPTER XI 

DUST COLLECTION 



VACUUM CLEANER 

A vacuum cleaner can be easily installed in any mill. This will 
do the work thoroughly and easily, cleaning up dust, dirt, insects and 
so forth, without raising any dust in the mill. Simply get a piece of 




Thit "American Kil'.er' 



suction hose, such as is used with a large vacuum cleaner, whatever 
length may be required, also the attachment for collecting the dust 
used with the vacuum cleaner to move along the floor or any place 
that you wish to sweep. Then get a socket and attach this hose to any 
convenient suction trunk and the machine is complete. All that is 
necessary is to attach the socket to a suction trunk back of the fan. 
One or more can be placed on each floor. Have a cap to put on the 

100 



MILLING KINKS 



101 



attachment when the hose is taken off to avoid the trunk taking in 
air when the cleaner is not in use. 

If there is not a suction trunk available on certain floors, simply 
tap one on the floor above or the floor below and run a 2-inch pipe to 
the floor where it is needed. If the mill is large and the distance is 
too great from the suction spout to the farther parts of the mill, install 
a 2-inch pipe connected with the suction trunk and running length- 
wise of the mill and have plugs placed at intervals along this pipe as 
required. 



CLEANING DUST COLLECTOR TUBES 

An easy way in which to thoroughly clean dust collector tubes or 
socks is with the use of a foot-power grindstone. For this purpose 
cut a broom handle to the right length, depending on the size of grind- 




stone and length of collector sock. Put a small wooden pulley on one 
end made out of a 1-inch block which will probably be about 3 inches 
in diameter, facing it with a piece of leather lagging so as to give it a 
good friction edge. 

Take an old brush ; split it, and take the bristles out. By boring 
some holes in a spiral shape on the broom handle and gluing and 
fastening these bristles in we have a good brush to revolve as shown in 
the illustration. Now fasten the broomstick against the framework 
securely with a pipe cleat or two and by turning the stone, the brush 
will be made to buzz. Slip the socks down over the brush while in 
motion. 



102 



MILLING KINKS 



REMOVING DUST IN CLEANING WHEAT 

When cleaning wheat into wheat bin over rolls no doubt all millers 
have noticed more or less fine dust flying in the bin. Attach a tin 



WHEAT TO BIN 



BIN 



TIN SPOUT 




spout to the wheat bin near the top and then back to the fan on the 
scourer cleaning to the bin. This idea will prove successful in remov- 
ing the fine dust. 



PURIFIER CONVERTED INTO DUST COLLECTOR 

The accompanying sketch shows an excellent method of convert- 
ing a purifier into a dust collector that will work well on any heavy 




X 



\\h 



n .;,; 



CONVEYOR 



f 

7 



material. In making the necessary changes to convert the purifier it 
should be borne in mind that compartment i should be small and com- 
partment 2 should be large, as the air will expand in the large com- 
partment, allowing the dust to settle in the conveyor. 



MILLING KINKS 



103 



PROTECTION AGAINST GRAIN DUST 

Of all the dust that is troublesome in the mill and elevator, the 
dust from the grain in the raw or as received from car or wagon is 
the worst. The dust which results from the ground grain is not in- 
jurious; it is the dust that adheres to the grain as it comes into the 




C^ Amenicon Mtli«r- 



mill that does the harm. To eliminate a great deal of this dust is an 
easy matter by means of the arrangement shown in the sketch. The 
wheat is received from the cars by an 8-inch conveyor. This con- 
veyor discharges into the receiving elevator. As the wheat 
enters the elevator leg a spout is so placed that the air currents carry 
off the floating dust. The conveyor box is covered up except a small 
opening at the end furthest from the elevator; this opening admits 

the air. 

Now when the cups dump the grain into the spout that leads to 



104 



AIILLING KINKS 



the receiving separator, there is considerable dust set free which is 
taken up by the air currents and carried to the separator fan. The 
wheat passes through the separator, drops into the conveyor, and 
again the air currents carry off the loose dust. The action of the 
conveyor sets free a lot of dust and if air is employed at the proper 
place a large amount of very undesirable foreign matter can be re- 
moved. 

If, however, the elevator is not fed with a conveyor it will 
be well to attach a wind spout to the elevator leg just above the boot 
and in that way draw off a lot of dust. In many mills the large or 
receiving elevator is used for all the grain ; in that case the arrange- 
ment here shown will be found very valuable. Where possible, run 
the air spout to the eye of the nearest fan, provided the fan is handling 
such stock as can be used in connection with the dust from the grain. 



TACKING CLOTH ON DUST COLLECTORS 

Replacing the bottom flannel on the ends of a tubular dust collector, 
to prevent the dust from escaping, is found to be a very tedious under- 




taking because the wood circle is but Yz to ^4 of ^^'^ 'xwzXi in width. 
A casting projects 2 inches over this circle and it is difficult to procure 
a tack hammer small enough to fit this space. By using a magnet to 
magnetize a nail-set or a narrow piece of steel 3 or 4 inches in length, 
so as to hold the tack while it is being driven into place this objection 
can be overcome. 



MILLING KINKS 



105 



KEEPING CYCLONE DUST COLLECTOR OPEN 

The accompanying illustration shows a sample way to keep the 
dust cpllector open. As indicated, A, is a round, straight stick 1 inch in 
diameter, with a pin in the bottom to go through E. A narrow strip 




of iron, F, is the support at top. C is the cross-arm, with paddles on 
the end. There are two arms and four paddles, so the air from the 
fan runs it. 5 is a strip of tin cut from a round piece, tacked on so 
as to carry the stock down as the shaft is turned by the paddles and 
air. 



CHAPTER XII 

LUBRICATION 



HOT-BOX NURSE 

This hot-box "nurse" is a great saver of time and oil and can be 
used wherever a journal box has an open-mouthed cap, designed to be 
filled with cotton, waste, or wool for oiling evenly. The "nurse" is set 
crosswise on the opening and becomes self-operative. 

Boxes will frequently run hot, even with the best of care and 
apparently without a known cause. When hot, these journals require 




the close attention of some one of the help, who generally has to stay 
at the imperative point, leaving his other work until the box has 
cooled down to its normal temperature. This is not the case with the 
"nurse" on the job, for a continuous supply of oil is started on the 
journal and the temperature of it is reduced in a short time, with less 
waste of oil than if it had been poured on by the impatient helper. 

106 



MILLING KINKS 



107 



The amount of the oil is regular and adjustable and the helper, 
after once setting the "nurse," which is no more or less than an ordinary 
sight feed lubricator set to run rather a heavy stream and mounted 
in a J^-inch board, can attend to his regular duties. The board is 
shaped so that it will rest on the bearing, the lower part fitting into 
the wool cap and keeping the lubricator and its stream playing 
properly on the shafting. With uniform bearings, this "nurse" may 
be used at any troublesome point at any time. The cam at the top 
shuts off the supply to the bearing when desired and thus the cup may 
be kept full and ready for application at all times. 



"SAFETY FIRST" OILER 

In almost all mills there are some bearings which are a continual 
source of danger for the oiler, particularly where the bearing is 
situated between two pulleys. A "safety first" method of providing 



riooR_ 



^^^^^^ 



C/JP 



3H/7Fr 



-^^^^^z^ 



/o 



:BF/7r?/A/a. 




J%'-% 



/?^e/*ccarv 



M;/k 



Cf* 



for dangerous bearings (such as those between pulleys) can be con- 
trived by procuring a ^-inch iron pipe, boring a hole in the floor 
directly above the bearing and letting the pipe down so that the end 
rests just above the bearing. The upper end of the pipe should extend 
just above the floor and should be provided with a screw cap so as to 
protect it from dust. This can be unscrewed each day when the oiling 
is done, and the operator is never in danger. 



108 



MILLING KINKS 



TO CLEAN OUT OIL HOLES 

Take a piece of very thin steel, something like an eight-day clock 
spring, about 3 inches in length, and form the end so it will represent 
a half circle. Make two of these and fasten to a little wooden handle 



a 



^ 



zzr= 



rv 



so they will spread as shown in the dotted lines of the sketch, and 
when pressed together will form in the shape of a belt punch. Press 
the two springs together and shove down into the oil hole, hold in 
that position until withdrawn. They will bring out accumulation in 
the oil holes, which can be wiped off on a piece of waste. 



A SIMPLE GREASE CUP 

This grease cup can be easily made in any size, out of common tin. 
Through the center of the grease runs a copper wire, terminating in a 
flat head of the same material which rests on the shaft itself. When 




CUP 



'-.^^^SH/fFT 



the bearing becomes warm the heat is transmitted to the copper wire, 
thereby melting the grease and automatically lubricating the bearing. 
This cup should be used on bearings which cannot be oiled after 
the mill is started. Care should be taken to fill the cups before start- 
ing the mill. A cover of the same material as the sides can be easily 
applied to the cup. 



HEATING THE OIL 

This device is useful in an engine room where there is no central 
oil supply. It consists of a small can mounted on the wall with 
brackets, fitted with a top that is easily removable. The can should 
be large enough to hold a couple of gallons of oil. In the bottom of 



MILLING KINKS 



109 



the can is placed a coil of pipe, made from short pieces of ^-inch 
pipe, ells and turns, which is connected to a steam line with a valve 




so that steam can be run through the can to warm the oil. The oil is 
warmed up to the desired point and drawn. On cold days the device 
will be found quite handy, and will serve to keep the oil can of¥ the 
engine cylinder. 



GREASE OR OIL CATCHER 

The cleaner mills usually have a drip pan to catch the grease and 
oil from those machines in the mill and engine room where there is 




VL 



31 



ahs'% 



n\ ^rc can 



A7//li 



c^ 



apt to be dripping. These pans can be made without the use of solder 
and yet be so constructed that they will not leak. Cut a piece of 
tin or light iron any shape desired. Cut it the width of the bottom, 
plus the height of the sides. Put it in an iron vise and bend it at 



110 



MILLING KINKS 



right angles along the dotted lines, as shown in the diagram. Let the 
corners go without bending until the ends and sides are bent, then put 
the corners in the vise or with a pair of pliers pinch the corners to- 
gether, and bend around the sides as shown. 



IMPROVING A GREASE CUP 

It is very essential that grease cups used on sifters should be neat 
fitting where the plunger is screwed into the main part of the cup. 
As the rods are of some length, it takes considerable force to conduct 



r 



D 



^^^.^^%^^^^^^^^^ 



the grease into the sifter boxes. If the thread of the plunger does 
not fit closely into the thread in the cup, grease is forced up on top 
of the plunger instead of being conducted into the box. 

Such a cup can be satisfactorily remedied by boring three or four 
small holes through the plunger and riveting a piece of medium thick 
old belting against the bottom as shown in the cut. The leather is 
simply fastened to the plunger and afterwards cut to the proper size 
for a close fit. The improvement will be noticed immediately. 



ALARM FOR A HOT BEARING 

This hot bearing alarm consists of a device very similar to a 
thermostat. A tongue is made of a strip of copper. A, and a strip of 
zinc, B, both the same size and gauge, riveted together with small 
rivets. The tongue is fastened to the base, C, made of 34-ii^ch fiber 
similar to an organ reed. The slot in the fiber should be about Y^ inch 
wider and ^ inch shorter than the tongue. Two screw holes, F F, 
are drilled in the filler, as shoAvn. The tongue is fastened to the base 
with the copper side in contact with the fiber. The electrical contacts 



MILLING KINKS 



111 



are made as shown at D and E. These contacts are attached to the 

fiber base with the binding-posts, G G. The circuit is wired as shown. 

The action is as follows : The instrument is fastened flat on the 

bearing cap with the metal tongue in contact with its surface. If the 



^r 




^m^ 




bearing gets warm, the zinc will expand much more than the copper 
strip, which causes the tongue to curl at the free end. In doing so it 
lifts the lever contact D into contact with E, thus closing the circuit 
and ringing a bell or lighting an electric light — whichever the miller 
may have installed. 



OILER FOR LUBRICATING GREASE 

Take a piece of burlap, just a small square of it will do, and draw 



P\ 


«• 




•* 


I* 


^ 




•• 






I 


ta 


a 


r* 


• 


r 


* 




r« 


»^ 


M 


• 


^ 






















































' 














" 
















































' 






































































































































































































— 1 






































































































































































t 
























































































' 










































































' 






























































































* 




_ 






















J 












r 












•" 




















H 




"n 






r—i 


»^ 








^ 


r 



out every other thread; then get a lump of hard oil of proper size 

and drap it up in the burlap patch, putting the whole into the journal. 

If one uses good hard oil or grease he will have litde or no 



112 



MILLING KINKS 



trouble with hot bearings. The burlap patch will prevent the grease 
from running out of the bearing, as is often the case, and at the same 
time the grease will be at all times in contact with the shaft and 
performing its duty of lubrication. 



HOME-MADE LUBRICATOR 
Here is a simple home-made lubricator that will give good results. 
The cup consists of a little can wirh a hole in the center of the bottom. 




A piece of 3^-inch pipe is soldered in as shown in the sketch. A 
thin wire with a double bag string for a wick is run through the pipe 
to the shaft. The cup is filled with oil level with the top of the pipe. 



CHAPTER XIII 



HEATING, VENTILATING AND 
FUMIGATING 



VENTILATION IN BLEACHING 

The following suggestion is made for those mills which use the 
bleaching process, although it might also be applicable in other mills 
where complaints of musty flour are reported. In the illustration a 



Open Canopy 




good method of ventilation is shown, allowing the escape of the 
bleaching air from the bin to the packer and excluding and protecting 
from the rain and snow. The ventilating pipe is 4-inch galvanized 
iron and leads from the bin near the top to the outside, through the 
mill wall, into the fresh air. The canopy provided over the exposed 
end should be amply broad and deep, to keep out a driving rain, as it 
is not the object to get or maintain any big draft. 

113 



114 



MILLING KINKS 
FUMIGATING SYSTEM 



The following has proved to be a very satisfactory way of cleaning 
a mill and ridding it of the moth. Us a small cannon heating stove, 
about 24 inches high, with a 9-inch fire pot, connected with 5-inch 



^ 



BOUTING FLOOR 



Purifier floor 



CAP 




Stovepipe extending from the stove on basement floor and up through 
various stories of the building, with galvanized receivers where pipe 
passes through floors, with tee just above each receiver. For pre- 
caution against fire, have the opening of tees covered with fine screen 



MILLING KINKS 



115 



wire; and over the openings put tight caps with handles. In the 
pipe, immediately above the stove, have a regular damper to regulate 
draft and also to keep fumigant from burning too fast or blazing. 

In use the caps are first put over all outlets except the top. The 
smudge is started in the stove and continued until the upper floor is 
well filled with smoke. The cap is then put on the top and the tee 
opened in the next lower floor. The process is so continued until all 
floors are well fumigated, which requires but a few minutes for each 
floor. The operator has only the stove to look after and he need not 
inhale the fumes except while changing caps as outlined, as when it 
comes to fumigating the basement, all that is necessary is to pull the 
cap off and get out. 



UTILIZING HEAT OF GAS ENGINE EXHAUST 

The sketch shows a simple water heater or steam generator which 
utilizes the heat of the gas engine exhaust. A coil of copper tubing of 




sufficient strength to stand the desired pressure is used. If running 
water is used for cooling, the water from cylinder jacket can be run 
through this coil and, by the use of pipes or radiators, the mill is 
heated considerably. 

Six coils of ^-inch copper tubing is sufficient for most mills. 
If you wish to make steam, a tank to stand pressure will be necessary 



116 



MILLING KINKS 



to hold the water supply. The amount of steam generated can be 
regulated by the amount of water allowed to enter the generator. 



FUMIGATING WHILE RUNNING 

It is difficult sometimes to tind a time when elevator legs can be 
fumigated, if the mill is rarely shut down. Here is an idea designed 




The "American Miller" 

for such a case. An opening is made in the elevator to which fits a 
hood. The latter is connected by a pipe to a gallon pail containing 
the fumigant. The buckets in the elevator leg help to carry the vapor 
upward. 



SIMULTANEOUS WINDOW OPENER 

A simple way to open or close windows on two or three floors in a 
second is as follows: A 3^ -inch rope, D, passes up through the mill 
from the basement to the attic, being situated close to each row of 
windows. This rope passes through a small pulley, B, on the top floor, 
then passes through a small swivel pulley. A, situated at the top and 



MILLING KINKS 



117 



in the center of window casing. The rope is then connected to the 
screw-eye C in the lower sash of window. 

Short pieces of the same size of rope are then similarly attached 
to each of the lower window sashes and then connected to the rope D. 







'■> 


~G 






<^. 










D 


3^-^ FLOOR. 








A 


B 








:> 


\ 






^. 














, Z'i2 FLOOR 




D 


A 


B 








J 


'\ 






CI, 














lU FLOOR 








BASEt^EN 


r 


I 


A 


^ 



A weight made up of sand or an old gear, sufficiently heavy to balance 
the attached windows is then connected to the lower end of rope D, as 
shown at E in the basement. Another small pair of pulleys may be 
used on this rope in the basement to prevent the weight E from rubbing. 



118 



■ MILLING KINKS 

GETTING WEEVIL OUT OF THE MILL 



The object of this plan is to get the weevil out of the mill as 
quickly as possible, as it comes from the wheat unloaded from the 
farmers' wagons and elevated to the receiving separator. The flow is 




1 — r 



Spout 




TS'if 'A merican M///er ' 




Discharge to Cob 

B//7 




rorge 
Blower 



self-explanatory, the separator fan blowing into a cyclone dust col- 
lector. This discharges into spouting which leads to a forge blower 
and thence cobs and straw are blown into the cob bin. The idea, if 
carried out, will surely get the weevil and keep things cleaned out 
generally. 



MILLING KINKS 119 

CLEANING ELEVATORS BEFORE FUMIGATING 

To clean the elevator before fumigating, take three or four wheat 
sacks, double and lay them across the top of the elevator cup at the top 




of the elevator. Then take a cord, wrap it once around the elevator 
belt, under the bucket and over the sacks and make it fast. 

Loosen the set screw in the pulley and turn pulley backwards, 
drawing the swab down one leg and up the other a few times, which 
will clean them out as good as new. This saves all the trouble of 
taking off the belt and does better work in a fourth of the time. 



COOLING FAN 

The sketch shows, not an electric fan, but one which acts much 
the same. The hub of this fan may be a buggy wheel hub with part 




of the axle used for a support bolted to overhead joist. Two blades 
on the fans are sufficient, each three feet long and tapered to one inch 
at hub, the outer end from three to four inches wide. The blades of 
the fan should be set at an angle so they will stir up the air. The 
speed of the fan should run from 70 to 80 revolutions. 

In the most cases the fan should be located in the neighborhood 



120 



MILLING KINKS 



of the flour packer, as it is here where the most need for a cooler will 
be ; this may, of course, be arranged to suit each individual case. This 
fan may be driven from any suitable shaft. The horizontal packer 
shaft will do — it may be driven by belt or rope. The expense of' 
installing this fan is but very small, in fact nothing in many cases, but 
the benefit is quite large in most or all cases. Air set in motion is 
better than dead air. This fan if properly put up will have its effect 
on the entire floor of a small building. Two or more fans will take 
care of greater areas. 



MILL VENTILATOR 

Any tinner can make this style of ventilator and it is easy for 
anyone to put it up himself. Put up one every 10 feet at the highest 



iLltJ 



^ 




point in your roof. The tube should be at least 8 inches in diameter. 
The air in the mill will be noticeably better after these ventilators are 
installed. 



CHAPTER XIV 

SPECIAL TOOLS AND DEVICES 



FIRST BREAK FEEDER CLEANER 

When the first break feeder is of the stationary variety, it some- 
times happens that foreign substances get in and are difficuU to remove. 



y^ /j/ner/carz. ^///er' 



J 



Take a piece of hoop iron 1 inch wide and about 6 inches long and file 
a hook at one end. This simple little device will be found useful in 
such an emergency. 



SOFT METAL HAMMER 

A simple lead hammer should be used for driving delicate pieces 
that might be scratched or battered where a hard steel hammer is used. 
Just take a common piece of pipe of the desired length and diameter 
and bore a hole into one side just a trifle "larger than the rod that is 




to be used as a handle, as indicated in the sketch. Batter the "inside 
end" of the handle as shown, so that it will be held securely by the 
soft metal. 

The building of the moulds for pouring the babbitt is simple. 
Anybody can do it. Then, after the moulds are all fixed, the handle 
in place, and the lead molten, do the pouring stunt. The result will be a 
good serviceable hammer. Be sure to have the soft metal project well 
over the edges of the pipe as shown, so that the pipe will never strike 

121 



122 MILLING KINKS 

the driven object. As soon as the hammer faces are battered badly, 

the lead can be remelted and recast, thus making a "perpetual" 
hammer. 



SLIP-POLE FOR MILLERS 

Where measuring of long units has to be done, such as belts, 
spouts, etc., it is often inconvenient to have only a fold rule, particu- 
larly where measurements from the ceiling have to be taken. A slip- 



OPCN T/r^ 



€fct 



^" zqufini: 



pole is handy to have at such times, and as it is very easily made 
should be ready to use in every mill when needed. 

The materials needed are two strips of %-inch square poplar and 
two pieces of tin, 2 inches wide and 4^ inches long. The tin should 
be bent in a vise and the corners made perfectly square so the strips 
can slip through easily. The strips can be from 3 to 6 feet long. 



REMOVING DOUGH FROM SUCTION PIPES 

A useful tool to have about the mill is made in the following 
manner: A piece of tin or sheet iron is taken, which may be originally 
3^x6 inches. At one end it is trimmed until it is judged to be about 



IS^'Am&fi^trn Mi I ten" 

right to wrap half way around a broom handle. The other end is then 
bent until it fits in general the curvature of the pipes. It is now 
fastened securely by nailing on to a broom-stick, thus permitting quite 
a reach and scraping distance inside the suction system. 




ROPE SPLICING TOOL 

The hollow awl for rope splicing shown in the accompanying 
drawing is 9 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter at the large end. 
From the point the awl is solid for 2 inches and is then hollowed out, 



MILLING KINKS 



123 



as shown, for convenience in handling. In using a soHd awl, the 
trouble is that when an opening is made in the rope for small strands, 
that have to be tucked in, and then the awl is withdrawn, the opening 
closes up before the strands can be inserted. 

The hollow awl under these conditions will work to perfection, 
since, after the awl is inserted between the large strands, the small 




TCiSAmafican /filler" 



strands to be tucked in are shoved through the opening made by twist- 
ing the awl and its groove. One hand now catches the small strand 
ends while the other untwists and withdraws the awl. The groove is 
4^ inches long and runs about ^ inch wide on small end to Y^ inch 
on the larger or butt end. The awl is easily made of polished and 
sandpapered hard wood. 



TIN BENDER 

It often becomes necessary for the miller to bend up tin to line 
spouting. In order to get this tin bent up evenly and uniformly it 




will be time saved to make up an arrangement as shown in the draw- 
ing. The device is shown at the end only and when one is made it 
should be about 30 inches long. Leave a crease at A where the tin 
is inserted. B shows how the tin is bent. 



124 



MILLING KINKS 



CHOKE RELIEVER 

Here is a little device needed on every floor of the mill for reliev- 
ing chokes. Use pretty stifif galvanized wire cut in pieces about 16 



=^ 



V—16 " A 

inches long. Bend hooks on each end and make a chain of them ; 
about eight or ten pieces are most convenient. It will go down a 
spout or up one, easily, and can be folded up when not in use. 



RIDDLE CLEANER 

Pounding the riddles of a separator with mallet, hammer, or even 
with the hands, soon destroys their usefulness. A tool made like the 
drawing may be used with good efi^ect in cleaning them, and will not 



\ 







FiQ.l 



*The '^ American Miller" 

injure them in any way. Cut a piece of heavy sheet iron about 5 
inches wide and to conform in shape to the sketch in Fig. 1, and slightly 
curved at end, as shown in Fig. 2. The handle may be made of a 
piece of ordinary spout lumber, ^xl^/j inches and about 2 feet long, 
with slot cut in one end. In this slot is inserted the piece of cut sheet 



MILLING KINKS 



125 



iron and it is secured in place by driving two or three small nails 
through and clinching. The handle may then be shaped to suit the 
operator. 



A SPOUT SWAB 

In order to keep spouts in good condition, secure a cheap buggy 
whip or flexible fishing pole. Cut away the small end for a few feet, 




't rz^^ 



J^tsh Po?p Or Dugrgy U/'hij^ 



bore a hole four or five inches from the small end and cover the end 
with a muslin flour sack, forming a small bag. Sew the end of the 
bag to a string and run the string through the eyehole in the pole. 
This will keep the bag from coming off, and makes a good spout swab. 



AIR-SHIP FLOOR CLEANER 

The sketch illustrates what is termed the "air-ship" floor cleaner. 
It will wipe up all of the fine dust remaining on the floor after it has 




^UBLf]P 



been swept with an ordinary floor brush. To make an air-ship floor 
cleaner take a piece of wood Ij/2x2x30 inches long, bore a hole in the 
center for handle and tack on a burlap bag on the cross piece, as 
shown. 



126 



MILLING KINKS 



TOOL FOR STRETCHING BOLTING CLOTH 

Everyone knows how difficult it is to stretch bolting cloth properly 
when putting same on sifter sieves. This little tool has proved satis- 
factory for stretching the cloth and holding it while tacking. 

Take a piece of hard wood about the size of a file handle, drive a 




six-penny nail about one inch into same, cut the head off and make a 
small hook on the end and file sharp, as shown in drawing. By stick- 
ing hook through web of cloth over sieve frame you can easily stretch 
it as tightly as desired and your fingers are not in the way when it 
comes to driving the tacks. 



WOODEN WRENCH FOR GREASE CUPS 

Especially during cold weather, turning the hand wheels or caps 
on large grease cups on sifters is often a wrist-straining operation, 
therefore the following wrench suggestion is oflfered : By using a 
%x3-inch piece of elm or any tough hard wood about 9 inches long, a 




wrench can be shaped up. Describe a circle B at one end which has 
the same diameter as outside points of grease cup; leave sufficient 
material around edge for strength and shape down to a handle. Now 
bore a hole the size of circle A and cut the inside down by hand to fit 
the hand wheels, so that a snug fit is made when wrench is slipped on. 



MILLER'S TURNTABLE 

The steps that can be saved by the device here shown will amount 
to a long distance in the course of a year. The turntable should be 
placed near the packer scales and within easy reach. All the supplies 



MILLING KINKS 



127 



that are needed at that station will thus be on hand and can be picked 
up without moving from the position in front of the machine. 

The table revolves upon an upright rod. The top can be turned 




TAf'^TtverLoan Mi/lUr' 

with the hand, and string, needles, pliers, hammer, nails, stencil, every- 
thing it contains, is within reach. It takes up far less room than a 
bench of equal capacity. 



DEVICE FOR CUTTING SPOUTS 

The following is a simple device to cut spouts any length and 
angle. The two sliding bars, A A, are made from 7/^ -inch matched 
lumber. They have adjustable blades, shown at BB, at the two ex- 
tremities. These blades can be set to fit any level and are held in 
position by screws which go through the sliding bars as shown. The 



128 



MILLING KINKS 



clamp C is fastened to one of the bars, the other bar sliding inside it 
to make the length between the two blades whatever desired. With 




this little contrivance any man who can use a handsaw can make a 
perfectly fitting spout. 



USING STEEL SQUARE AS A LEVEL 

This sketch shows how to make a combination level and square 
out of a steel square. When the plumb bob, suspended as shown, 



<^ 



The ''American Miller" 

points to the mark indicated, the surface is level, or the upright is 
plumb. This device will be found to be very sensitive, even more sensi- 
tive than the regular bubble level, and will be a great convenience. 



REPAIRING SMALL HOLES IN BOLTING CLOTH 

Bolting cloth on sifters and reels that is somewhat worn is likely 
to contain a number of very small holes. The best method for repair- 
ing such a cloth is to use a small pointed stick of hardwood, as indi- 



MILLING KINKS 



129 



cated herewith, dipping the point in the glue and applying it to the hole. 
It is not necessary to use a patch at all with these small holes. Just 



C 



warm the glue slightly, apply sparingly, and then cover the place 
with flour dust. In this way the capacity of the cloth will not be 
decreased. The stick should be of very hard wood, so that the poinl 
will not become ragged after being wet. 



SIMPLE KEY-WAY CUTTER 

This is a simple and inexpensive key-seat cutter which anv miller 
can make. The cutter itself is made by placing a 10-inch hack-saw. 
D, between two strips of wood, C, and fastening tightly with screws. 



A\ 



C- 



Ni^ 



B 



BB are guide-boards extending on either side of E, the shaft to be cut. 
With this simple arrangement a key way of any size and depth can be 
cut cleanly and perfectly. It is an easy matter to adjust the guide. 



130 



MILLING KINKS 



ADJUSTABLE CENTER FOR ALIGNMENT 

This adjustable center is made of three pieces of wood, Fig. 1 
showing the front and Fig. 2 the side view. Those pieces can be 
made any size desired. For ordinary use make them between 6 inches 
and 12 inches in length. A is the base, the piece B sliding back and 
forth in a groove, and C works in a corresponding groove cut on B. 
These grooves or notches must be cut so there will be a good and fairly 




u u 






tight fit. It is almost unnecessary to point out that the grooves must 
also be square with the pieces, that is, B must be absolutely per- 
pendicular to A and B perpendicular to C. The two pieces C and A 
will then be exactly parallel. The dotted portions shown in Fig. 1 
are merely to indicate how the respective pieces will slide and occupy 
new positions as desired. 

The large piece A has two holes, one on each end. These are for 
the purpose of fastening it to the wall, or a plank, or a stub in the 
ground if there is no building to start with. Take four of these 
adiustable centers, to line up an engine both ways, or two to align a 
common line shaft. 

In lining up a shaft, for instance, first get' the shaft up some- 



MILLING KINKS 



131 



where close to its permanent position, fasten the two adjustable 
centers up and then stretch a string to the eyebolt as shown in C. 
After the line is drawn tight, the centers can be moved up and down 
or back and forth until the string has come in exact line with where 
the shaft should be. A light tap will move the pieces of the adjust- 
able center in the direction desired and with the line stretched tight the 
pieces will stay put. Then set the boxes up to the line. 

If the shaft is already in the hangers and it is desired merely to 
re-align it, stretch the line to the adjustable centers above or below 
the shaft ; then take a rule and get the exact measure on every bearing 
and the shaft will be in line. 



DEVICE FOR CUTTING LACE LEATHER 

Here are the component parts and the method of operation of a 
handy little device for cutting lace leather. The drawing w411 explain 



■% 






Z¥ GAliCE Qfi.L.lf^QH, 







%' 




itself and nothing need be added except possibly that it should be at- 
tached to a large board or to the work bench itself, so that the miller 
will know where to find it when he wants it in a hurry. 



CHAPTER XV 

MISCELLANEOUS 



GETTING OUT CAR GRAIN DOORS 

Where the mill has a power car puller the following method for 
getting out grain doors is most efificient : 

Drive a hook into the grain door, wrap the other end of rope two 
or three times around the capstan of the car puller, start the car puller, 
and the door comes out intact. This saves an average of 20 minutes' 




Fuller 



The "American Miller' 



V:::^ 



time per car for two men at 20 cents per hour each. With unload- 
ing capacity of 15 or 20 cars daylight work, the actual saving will 
amount to $600 to $700 annually. 

This door lifter consists of a hook made of iron 1^4 to 1^ inches 
square (any old piece of iron or shaft will do), with an eye large 
enough to admit a 1^-inch rope. A timber made of four pieces of 
2xl2-inch, well bolted together, with the two inside pieces enough 
shorter than the others to admit a 10-inch sheave w^heel at each end. 
The length of this timber will depend on distance of car puller from 
the car. The outside end should extend out to and over the door of 
car, and high enough to not interfere with work of railroad men. 

132 



MILLING KINKS 



133 



YIELD TAKING IN SMALL MILLS 

The accompanying sketch illustrates a quick and inexpensive 
method for ascertaining the exact yield of flour and feed from a 
running stream in a flouring mill. 

If making one grade of feed and two grades of flour, which is the 
custom in most mills, secure three small common platform scales 
each having a capacity equal to the amount of flour and hran the mill 




Ch* 'Amar-icory n'i>l»i- 




To Bran 




To 2^G/V7, 
Cheat 




To Ihtcnt 

^ Chemt 



will produce in a given time, say 30 minutes. ]\Iakc galvanized 
hoppers to set on these scales of suitable size to hold their respective 
contents for the length of the test, allowing one cubic foot of hopper 
to every 32 pounds of loose flour and one to every 20 pounds of loose 
bran, with the valved discharge of each hopper cut through the wooden 
platform of its .scale and extending ])y a flexible connection to the 
packer chest. Next put valves in the two flour spouts and bran .spout 
above the scales, with stub spouts from each valve into the tops of t^ch 
galvanized hopper. 

If the mill is so built that the three valves are as close together as 
shown in the diagram, they may be connected by rope or wooden rod, 
so as to be opened and closed simultaneously. If widely apart, how- 



134 MILLING KINKS 

ever, they can be operated by hand without affecting the results, pro- 
vided they are closed in the same order as they are opened, duplicating 
the time consumed in the two operations in going from one valve to 
another. When scales, hoppers, valves and spouts are installed sub- 
stantially as the drawing shows, any authorized person like the miller, 
owner or manager can take a yield from a running stream that will 
indicate the exact yield. 



ADJUSTABLE LAMP 

The extension lamp holder shown herewith permits of a wide 
range of adjustment. To the floor joists is nailed a %-inch strip 




'^^"A men can Milfer 



about 4 inches wide. Through this a hole is bored to permit a round 
pendant to revolve easily in it. A collar secures the pendant from 
falling and also allows it to be revolved easily in any direction. The 



MILLING KINKS 



135 



length of the pendant will of course depend on the height of the ceil- 
ing. At the pendant's lower end is a slot and clamping screw with 
winged nut holding the movable arm with eyelets and extension cord 
and lamp. 



POWER SCOOP 

This scoop will move more grain in the same time than 10 men 
will shovel. The clutch is made of two old sprocket wheels, one of 
them a solid cast iron wheel, the other with spokes. In the solid wheel 
three or four holes are bored and -^-s-inch bolts fastened in with a nut 




T^-^'American /*////. 



and bolt, extend through far enough for them to be caught by the 
spokes of the other wheel if the two are brought together. This novel 
clutch is operated by one man while the other man operates the scoop. 
The clutching part slides in its bearing enough to make engagement 
with the shaft wheel and disengage its teeth therefrom. 

The drum should turn fast enough to pull the rope at a rate of 
from 100 to 150 feet per minute. The scoop is 26 inches wide and 
about 28 inches long. By introducing block and fall in convenient 



136 



MILLING KINKS 



places, one can move the grain from practically any place in the mill, 
in any direction. Bins that are not hoppered are readily and quickly 
scooped. Cars may be unloaded or loaded and filling the ends of 
the cars is an easy matter. 



HANDLING SWEEPINGS 

The accompanying sketch illustrates a very handy way of taking 





5pout 

Shorts j 
Packer '^ 



Shorts 
Eleva-tor 



care of sweepings every day so as not let them gather around the mill 
in corners piled up in sacks. 

As indicated, A is lid in spout H, leading from top floor to base- 



MILLING KINKS 



137 



ment. B is counter shaft, driven from roller shaft D. C is an eccen- 
tric on counter shaft to shake sieve below spout H. Place sieve right 
under the ceiling in basement. E is a belt drive from shaft D to 
counter shaft B. . Place the shorts feeder under sieve. G is the drive 
from shaft D to shorts feeder, spout feeder to shorts elevator. Have 
the sw^eeper dump sweepings in spout H through bin A on each floor 
and one will never see sweepings gathering around the mill. 



DEVICE FOR CAR LINERS 

Most mills which ship flour in sacks, paper or cotton, line the 
car with paper to keep the sacks in good condition. The accompany- 



■ LftTCH 




Paper- 



Platform- 




CouPI/NG 



IRON TOE 



The '* American Miller" 



ing device is very handy, not onl}- in placing the i>iiper roll, but also 
in keeping it out of the way when not in use, as it can be set in a corner. 
Take a piece of ^-inch gas pipe and screw a coupling on one end, 
against which is placed a large iron washer. Then make a wooden 
platform for the paper to stand on. Screw an iron toe into the 



138 



MILLING KINKS 



coupling and a step in the floor. It is an easy matter to slip the rod 
through the paper roll, up-end it and let the rod to into a notch in a 
2x4, with a latch to fasten it in place. 



SPLICING A POST 

The following is a very efficient way of splicing a post that has 
rotted on the end, while the greater part of the post is in a good state 



OLD 
P03T 




p/rcr 







of preservation, and in a place where it may be difficult to remove the 
whole post to put in a new one. 

The angle of the cuts should be great enough to allow two bolts 
to be run through the splice. First hang the post securely by braces, 
then cut the bottom, as shown in sketch, above the rotten place, then 
bolt the new piece on, and drive the key back so as to allow the tenon 
to extend through the bottom plate in order to cast a way for it in 



MILLING KINKS 



139 



the concrete footing. Fasten the plate accordingly with small nails 
and also tack the two keys in tightly after all has been plumbed and 
leveled. 

Next build a form around the plate and fill with concrete mixed 
to proportion of two parts cement to one part of clean sand for heavy 
posts, or for lighter posts three or four to one. 

Where posts have been put up in damp cellars it is sometimes 
found that the shafting is hard to keep in line, and if examined closely 
this weakness around the keys and plate is often found to be the 
cause, and when mixed with a good concrete footing in the manner 
described will be found verv efficient. 



AUTOMATIC TRAP DOOR 

The following trap door can be opened and closed with the foot, 
and will latch automatically when closed. The catch to the door is 



cnrcH — 




7^"/^mertcan /^i^/er' " 



-f. 



fastened to the under side. It is fastened to a plug which goes through 
a hole in the floor and projects about half an inch above. When this 
plug is stepped on it releases the catch, and the door, which is attached 
by a rope to a weight heavier than itself, opens. It can be closed by 
pressing down with the foot, and the latch holds it in place until again 
needed. 



140 



MILLING KINKS 



ATTACHMENT ON EMPLOYES' ELEVATOR 

Almost all of the employes' elevators used in the mills make a 
fearful clatter when passing over the top. Besides the noise, the jerk- 




ing of the step as it goes over the top breaks the belt and the step. 
To remedy these faults, have two pieces of iron made in the shape 
of A in the drawing. This is to be as wide as the track on which the 
step runs. At the lower end of A put in a block, B, to hold A solid. 
This iron must be riveted tightly in place. The noise and jerking will 
be much less. 



BRIDGE FOR CAR DOORS 

In loading cars it is nearly always desirable to have a rest or 



1 




2*-l*" ^mcni can Mi Her " 



bridge across the door if a spout is being used. Take a 4x4 tough 
scantling and fasten on one end a plate having a -)4-inch spike extend- 
ing through from the center. On the other end of the board is placed 



MILLING KINKS 



141 



a screw-jack arrangement which is made and adjusted in the follow- 
ing manner: Bore a 1-inch hole in the center deep enough into the 
wood to allow the screw to work freely therein. Centered with the 
hole, countersink a nut flush with the end of the scantling. Use an 
ordinary 1-inch bolt, threaded well down to the head, which, for this 
usage, should have a conical point of about -/4 inch. For a handle to 
operate the screw, use a double-headed pin, passed through the bolt 
well up towards the head. 

Now the bridge is adjusted to nearly the right width, raised and 
placed in any desired position on the freight car door and the bolt 
turned around, clamping the bridge into position. A few turns of the 
screw and it is removed without damage to the door or destruction of 
door liners. 



SAFETY WATER BARREL 



Due to corrosion, the iron hoops which secure a barrel will often 
break and make the barrel, upon a slight jar, fall to pieces. This 
corrosion is natural and there is no way to prevent it. To make the 




barrel safe and sound and do away with the liability of finding the 
barrel unsound when it is most needed, wooden hoops in addition to 
iron ones may be placed around the barrel. These wooden hoops 
will indefinitely keep the staves in place and prevent the water from 
leaking all over the mill floor. 



142 



MILLING KINKS 



AUTOMATIC WHEAT SYSTEM 

Quite often it happens that the elevator that the mill draws its 
wheat from stands apart from the mill proper, while the mill draws 
wheat at all time when running. In case of a shut down the miller 
has to run clear over to elevator to shut off the wheat or a large amount 
of wheat will be spilled over and lots of work required to start the 
elevator. 

The arrangement shown here will save the miller a great many 
steps and any amount of waste around the mill and elevator. All 




of the parts may be picked up around any mill so the only item of ex- 
pense is a little time on the part of the miller to put in the same. 

In the sketch a lever A at first break roll goes through the floor 
and connects with the 2x2-inch wood strip B, which goes through 
basement and operates an arm C. This slides rod E through pipe F 
to arm G. To this arm or lever are attached a number of y^-mch. 
ropes. These run to the slides in the spouts that wheat is drawn from 
and are placed above the percentage slides. In opposite end of slides 
is attached a similar rope which runs over a pulley placed on same 



MILLING KINKS 143 

level as slide. To the end of this rope is attached a weight large 
enough to replace slide when lever A releases the ropes on other end 
of slide. In shutting down or starting up all that is necessary to obtain 
wheat from elevator or to shut it off is to shove lever A forward 
or back. 

Now the wheat is in the mill. The sketch shows w-heat sink, /, 
spout 2, slide j which runs up to the receiving separator on top floor. 
This separator has a hopper under it which holds six or eight bushels 
of wheat. A pair of wings are placed in this hopper so the wheat 
falls directly on them as the wheat fills up and covers wings. The 
weight and downward movement of the wings causes them to spread 
downward and out causing lever 4 with which the wings are connected 
to push down slide j till the wheat flows out of sink i in stream large 
enough to hold the hopper of wheat under separator at an even level. 
Spring 5 is a coil spring like those put on screen doors which steadies 
and regulates the flow of wheat by holding wings up till weight of 
wheat pushes them down. 

Now over rolls and stock hopper place another set of wings and 
connect them to lever //, which in turn operates arm 12. This causes 
rod 6 to operate slide 7 over milling separator. As the wheat fills up 
on the wings in stock hopper the weight will slowly shut ofif feed on 
milling separator. As the wheat backs up to receiving separator, the 
wings in the hopper there w'ill regulate wheat coming to wheat sep- 
arator thereby saving an overload on separator. 

The level in wheat in stock hopper is regulated by the tension 
spring 8. When shutting down mill shut ofif elevator by lever A, 
then pull lever p down and hook it. All wheat will cease to move till 
lever 9 is again released. A wire 10 is run from lever 9 to lever 
II above w'ings. 

Now by placing wings in tempering bin at the top and connecting 
with a slide in discharge spout your wheat in tempering bin will stay 
at an even level at all times regardless of the amount of w'heat being 
ground. By having another lever at first break roll connecting with 
a slide under tempering bin, one does not have to leave first break- 
rolls to shut down the mill. 

Another good feature of the arrangement is that should a stone 
or any foreign matter lodge against feed slides when the level of 
wheat gets below normal, the wings will open slides wide until the 
wheat again reaches normal level. This will allow the foreign matter 
to pass through under the slide and a choke-up on wheat is avoided. 



44 



MILLING KINKS 



HOME-MADE BARREL HOIST 

The following wrinkle shows a good method of barrel lifting. 
Make a windlass, building a frame out of 2i/2x23^-inch timber and 
put together with bolts. Then fit an old shaft into this frame, with 
iron flanges inside the boxing at each end. The ends of the shaft are 
squared by the blacksmith and cranks fitted on. 

Then hang a double rope pulley to the ceiling, the latter having 
slots at various points. A long, large link is then attached to the 




rope pulley, extending through the floor above, and a large bolt is laid 
across the floor above and put through the link. A single-rope pulley 
is used at the bottom in the usual way. 

The floor below also should have slots at various places and put 
a tee through the slot and turn to right angles. The frame has a cross- 
piece at the bottom and the tee enters this crosspiece, with a little crank 
threaded and turned on the top end of the tee. This will hold the 
frame in place. The barrels are grabbed by the two irons, as shown 
in the accompanying cut. The rope can be attached to the windlass 
by a hook fastened to one of the flanges with thread and nut. 



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